The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-17
WHY THE WAGESwERECUT
TESTIMONY IN THE MILL INQUIRY
At NEW BEDFORD.

strikers Cause disorder ai the Napuraetnrern
Representatives Testify Before ths 1esisia-
tive Csmmittee-Reduction = last Resort.
New BEDFORD. Mass, Feb. 16.-The LeRisla-
tive Committee on Labor concluded It's strike
inquiry here to-day-and will: begin its work
in Fall River on Thursday. The sessions to-
day were animated. Several hundred oper-
atiyes crowded Odd Fellows Hall and chaffed
tho manufacturer who testified. The commit.
tee was unable to restrain the strikers; and fire.
quehtly the session was.thrown into disorder.
The most impressive statement Of tho day
was that Of Joseph =. Knowles of the Acushnst
mill who declared that the cloth mills Of Now
Bedford were operated last year with q loss of
$4,000. Mr.. Knowles said that his mill,
which has paid 10 per cent. dividends on n nom
lnal capital Of $500, 900. had in reality paid only
o per cent. IL figured on the Same basis as tho
other mills and only 0 per cent. on the assessed
value.
Andrew G. Pierce. President OF tho Manufac-
turerB' Association. testified that the cut-down
was compelled by tie condition of business.
He insisted that no preferred q radical curtail-
ment and had run the largo part Of the Wam-
sutta mills ON short time, but the proportion Of
spindles that adopted this policy was not suf-
icient to have any perceptibie influence on the
market for goods, and, as It was found imprac-
ticable to put in force q curtailment OF produc-
ton sufficiently radical to tone up and cause a
betterment In the goods market, when the wage
peratiye that the cost Of goods must be reduced.
AZ Q last resort he favored this policy. Mr..
Pierce DECLARED that the reduction did not orig
tnato with tho Awkwright Club and his asscr-
ti9 9t Ts y. Tslserstea By FL Eli th hs sta s mill men M,
said that the tariff to-day was practically the
same as under the Wilson; Gorman BIN AND
ter to the Massachusetts, cotton manufacturers,
who must have, protection from foreign compe.
tition. The Grinnell mill is in direct compete.
goods for ia cents a yard less and yet make q
profit. Mr.. Pierce said labor agitators and
EIe re SsS,s senT tbat Nst are p trying to e make make; the pub.
Klondike for spinners. The average pay OF q
muio spinner in New Bedford is $3.50 d year,
reckoning on q basis of ffty-one weeks. This
In cloth mills in New Bedford.
Mr.. Pierce attributed much Of the mills en-
barrassncnt to restrictive labor legislation.
The millIien all declared in favor Of uniform
President Cunnane Of the weavers' Union
was the last witness. He said that for two
years he had kent account of his wages and by
actual figures he had been cut 12A per cent.
without notice by change in style.
There IS q feeling that the strikers are ap-
preaching 9 crisis. The Weayers' Unions funds
in slowly. Secretary Hart says:
III We are to fight this battle for tho rest of
New England. the weavers, of New England
should respond to a mun. The spinners arc in n
flyers. In one sense we are dependent on each
other. and unless tho funds forthcoming are
larger in amount than they have been in the
Of tho loom fxcrs and spinners."
The relief station managers all report an in
crease In the number of needy families.