The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-24
NEW ENGLAND WAGE TROUBLE
Conference Between Mill Owners and Oper-
neutrality-suspicious. of the Latter-Paw-
tucket Mills ClOsed-Reducing Wages.


Fall River, Mass, December 2O.-A
conference of representatives of the
cotton manufacturers and the en-
pioyes, on the wage question, was
! held today. The representatives Of the
labor union submitted three reports,
and ZACH of the delegates made some
comment thereon. The manufacturers
decided to take the matter under on
sideration and will give a written an
swer tomorrow. These propositions,
formulated at the meeting of the rep
| r~esentatives of the various labor unions
last week are:
1t being the general opinion that
there will be an improvement during
the ensuing yea and that the manu-
lfacturers will be in a far more pros
porous condition than at present, we
request the manufacturers to postpone
the proposed reduction until the first
of March. If there is no improvement
at hat time we viii hold another on
ference with the view of settling the
wag question.
Believing that reducing wages is not
a remedy for an Overstocked market,
we respectfully request the manufac-
turers to wOrk four days per week I'M
til the LIST of March If there is no inn
prOveinent at that time we will hold
another conference.
If neither of the propositions
is accepted and we cannot settle the
questions satisfactorily, we are willing
to submit our case to the state board
of a r1hifr q finn voOrp IN rom ~, oo q Y
present until the state board makes it's
report.
The attitude of the big plant of the
Fail River Iron Works Company, which
employs about 5000 operatives and
| which has been questioned by some,
was settled today by the
ment of the OWner NJ. G. D.. Borden,
of New York. He announces his will
ingness to reduce wages to a point 20
per cent. below the present basis if the
| committee so decides.
~PaWtucket, r. I.-December 2O.-The
trouble between the weaverS and
management of the Royal Weaving
Company, which las existed since the
reduction in wages was announced to
take place, eliminated today in the
virtual discharge of the eavers be
cause Of a refusal to comply with ar
order from Manager OFT, embodying a
request by the company to have sew
eral cotton Weavers taught the bust
ness. The weaver informed the man
ager that they would go out rather
than comply with the order, and they
were discharged. The mills will have
to close. The mills employ about 250
people. The reduction of the weavers'
wages amounted to 16 per cent.
SuncCOk, N. H., December 20.-No-
tees have been posted at the China,
Pembroke and Wasster cotton mills
here announcing a reduction of the
wages of the operatives of about 10 per
cent. on January 1st. The cut will af-
feet the superintendent and Overseers,
and in fact, all Of the employees of the
three corporations, including nearly
100 operatives. The monthly payroll
amounts to about $27, 900. The three
mills are engaged in the manufacture
OF print cloth. 1t is probable that the
cut down will De accepted.
| Manchester, N. H., December 10
Notices of a 10 per cent, reduction in
wages on January LIST have been posted
in the AmOry, Stark and Jefferson
cotton mills in this city. The Amos
keag mills, employing 5000, posted
similar notices last week. The Amory
Stark and jefferson mills employ II, 00(
| operatives.