The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-12-14

close OF the business session banquet for
which 100 covers we're laid, was served at
the Montpelier House.
FEARS are entertained in some quarters of
strike among the granite cutters in Barre
aud Montpelier. The cutters of the two
cities have demanded a raise of from TWEEN.
ty-Dine and one-balf cents to thrty-two
cents per hour, with eight hours for days
work. The manufacturers have taken the
demand into consideration and it ia quite
probable they will refuse to grant it, This
demand was made a few days ago, and az,
by the agreemeu between the cutters and
man facturers, three months notice must
be- given of any change in price desired
either by the cutters or manufacturers,
this raise in price, II granted would not
therefore take place until March / next.
In case the manufacturers refuse to concede
to the demands of the workmen it is hoped
The matter can be adjusted without q strike.
The cutters in Barre aud Montpelier are
not unanimous in his demand and for the
best interest of all concerned, IL the manu-
facturers decline to advance the wages AS
requested, it is hoped the cutters will take
sensible view of the situation aud not
press their demands at this time.
Hon. THOMAS B. STEVENS died last Thurs
day evening at his home in II ist Mont-
pelier, aged six 'y-five years. Mr. Stevens
had been ill for ten days with a severe cold,
but refused to take his bed. Two DAYS he.
fore his death acute pneumonia developed
and the end came before those NEAREST to
him by ties OF kindred cond reach him
Mr.. Stevens spraug from old Quaker stock
Clark Stevens, his gran father, was one OF
the original settlers of what was then the
tlwn OF Montnelier coming from r colchester,
Mass, i'll 1890. Deceased WAS born in
Monkton in 1888, and one year later stephen
+. Stevens, his father, moved TO Montpelier
aud located on the farm that has since been
occupied bv him and his son. Mr.. Stevens
has gradually added adjoining acres until
at the time of his death he owned The larg
est and one of the most fertile farms in
East Montpelier He has always been held
in the highest esteem by his townsme 4 al d
neighbors and by all who knew him. AL
though never a seeker after Office he has
repeatedly been honorrd with positions of
trust H5 represented East Montpelier in
the Legisla ure Of 1872, and was one of tn ,
Senators from Washington county in the
general assembly OF 1896. One of the last
times Mr.. Stevens " as at Mont pelier was to
attend a reunion of that body in the Senate
chamber uriDg the closing days of the re-
cent session. The death of his W fe a year
ago deeply affected him, aud he never re-.
'vered from the blow. He is survived bv
one daughter, l. mora R., now Mrs II. NJ.
Farnham of WiIliamstOwn, by two sisters,
Mrs. Mary S. Putnam Of East Montpelier
and Mrs. Rowland f. Robinson of FERRIS
burg, also by three bI Iothers, Charles f OF
Barre. James of Pierre, s. D., and Timothy
Stevens, sleeping car conductor between
Montreal and Boston. Notwithstanding
the severe Storm, there was very large al
tendance at his funeral, which was held
last Sunday afternoon from his late no ne
Rev DR.. A. l. Coopsr Of Plainfield was the
officiating Clergyman, and the burial was
beside the remains of his wife in the ceme-
terry az East Montpelier village.