The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-22
FALL RIVER MAY SEE A FIGHT.
MANUFACTURER INSIST ON CUT
TING WAGES JAN. =.

Sentiment of the Operatives said to
duction-The manufacturers Send IL
Long Statement to the Operatives
setting Forth Their Reasons For
Considering 81 Cut Necessary and
Inevitable.
Fall River, Mass, Dec. 2l.-A formal
meeting of the manufacturers committee
was held this afternoon and an answer to
the operatives was framed. 1t receites
the conditions affecting the industry in
Fall River and the reasons for the pro
posed reduction of wages. The answer
says: 1.-THE manufacturers have carefully
considered the propositions submitted to
them by representatives of the labor or
ganization. AS you very well know. the
cotton mills in Fall River find confront
ing them a condition of things, which, to
say the least, is startling, and the condi-
ton of the cotton cloth trade is such that
the mills in Fall River find it impossible
to dispose of their output at such prices
as will admit of any return whatever on
the capital invested. The competition
which Fall River mills have to meet has
been brought about in part by the philan-
thropy which the good people of Massa-
chusetts have ever shown towards those
of her citizens who have appeared to need
her sympathy.
The hours of labor in Massachusetts
have been shortened more than in neigh
boring states, and more than her manu-
faeturers can. stand While such laws have
operatives in the factories. they have real
ly worked to their financial disadvantage.
because SUCH laws have induced undue
competition outside OF Massachusetts.
where hours of labor are longer and where
every inducement is offered capitalists to
invest
The south has modern mills containing
most improved machinery and very low
cost of labor. Massachusetts is handicap
ped by the shortest labor hours an ex-
tremely restricted legislation compared
with other and competing states. Mills
must run and earn dividends for stock
poIders or there is no inducement for capi-
tai to invest in Massachusetts or Fall Riv-
er IL must be evident TO you, as il to this
committee, that there is no money for
stockholders, nor for employees either
when the mills are idle or running short
Tune, and that it is useless for the Fail
river mills to do all the curtailing of pro-
duction
When we stop our mills every one else
runs full time, and if curtailment of
production here brings about better prices
II is only temporary and simply offers an
inducement for capital TO build more mills.
not IN Fall River, but outside of Massa-
chusetts.
We work against ourselves every time
we stop our mills, without the cooperation
OF the rest of the splndles of the country.
rairfn
be willing to join with us in curtailing
production only when Fall River is able
10 manufacture cotton cloth at as low a
price as elsewhere.
The facts are that Massachusetts mills
work forty-eight hours per week. and 9TH
er states have sixty-hours law for labo
The southern states run sixty-six and
seventy hours weekly, and in some cases
run day and night. The cost of labor in
the southern mills is very much lower
than in New England, and they claim ad-
Vantages in water power taxes cheaD
transportation and cheap cotton as well
as in longer hours of labor Their mills
are as good, but no better than ours and
the fact stares us in the face that they
can undersell US in the market on ac-
count of the lower cost of production
But reducing the labor ia not all Some
concerted action should be taken 10 see if
legislation in this state cannot be made
friendly to its industries, so that capital
may be induced to stay here, rather TO 90
outside. When it is considered that mills
in Fall River and Massachusetts run less
hours than in other states, and ii is rec
essary for us to meet such close compe4
ton in trade under such adverse condi-
lions, it seems to this committee that moth
ing as to be gained by putting off for
two months more the date at which
reduction of wages should so into effect
and, inasmuch as the mills of Fall River
have run during the past year or more
under conditions very discouraging and
uuremunerative, during which time we
have tried the experiment of curtailment
extensively, the committee of manufactur-
ers feel that the situation is such that
they must adhere to their decision that
it is absolutely necessary to reduce wages
in Fail River mills Il 1-9 per cent. said
reduction to go into effect on the third
day of January, 1898, as voted by the man
ufacturers at meeting held on the 9Th
day of December, 1897"
The sentiment of the employees is said
to be in favor of resisting the reduction.
Worcester, Mass, Dec. 21-The Millbury
cotton mills, following the lead of the Fall
River mills, has posted notice of a cut
of 10 per cent, to take effect on Jan g.
This was expected, and the owners say
they were forced to make the cut by the
condition of business.