New-York tribune., 1898-01-01
RHODE ISLAND CUTS WAGES.
THE MOVEMENT BEGUN IN FALL RIVER
AFFECTS $4,000 MORE MEN.
PROVIDENCE AGENTS WE'RE UNWILLING TO TAKE
THIS STEP. But WHEN NEw-BEDFoRD
DID TT THEY HAD TO FOLLOW.

THIS STEP. But WHEN NEw-BEDFoRD
DID IT THEY HAD TO FOLLOW.
Providence. Dec. si.-Af.er delaying their decision
TO the LIST In he hope that conditions might
change so os TO render the step unnecessary. the
agents OF the leading cotton manufacturing cor
porations In MS State decided to-day TO reduce
wages. The cut-down will average about IL per
cent and will take effect on January II. Notices
TO that effect VIII be posted Monday In the mills
Of r. B. e. r. Knight the Lonsdale Company. the
Manvlllv Social and other companies controlled by
the Lippitts and the smaller corporations through
out the State.
j. w Daaielson OF the Qulnnebaug Company
the Lockwood Manufacturing Company ana other
corporations with mills IN Eastern Connecticut
said III. reduction would take effect in his mills on
January II. although the amount OF the reductioh
had not yet been decided upon. The other Eastern
Connecticut corporations will take similar hctoh'
as will mills operating about two million spindles
in this Sta . and Massachusetts. and the earnings
OF between 10000 ard $1,000 operatives VIII be al
fected by the decision Of The Providence agents.
Many firms opposed the reduction and would have
favored running shorter hours but they say tne!
cannot afford to keep up the cost OF pronu''oh
and then c'rtail the output when the other mills
turning out the regular quantity al ~ pei ce"'
less wage cost.
paratiyely few Of the Rhode Island factories
turr ou. product that competes with that OF the
Fail River mills but the majority. including all inc
Girect
New Bedford and when the mill treasurers OF
that city ann )unced their decision it rendered ac-
ton by the local agents imperative. Cotton manu-
featuring Is Rhode Islands greatest industry ana
the list OF mills affected with their capacity ana
force OF operatives. is as follows:
Social Manufacturing Company. WoonsocKet'
lS7 900 spindes aoe looms and about l,oo handS 40
,osms M.ys ans sSSnt GomPnniSSo 10 Hnng' SanGs % ''F
Goddard Mills. controlling the Lonsdale Company;
Of Ashton and Lonsdaie. r. t. 10000 sp'no'eS ana
Berkeley Company Berkeley. r. l.. 1900 spindles
blackstone Company. Blackstone, Mass. 4S'f"
S'IHaTa Hone Cnmpany 400 spindles and $50 looms
knight Compan1y 1ycISn oPST'lmE as"Ht
looms Arctic Mills, Arctic 5000 sIndlsss, s, and 9s7
gR' MIL MIL fh"s M Nsek f. s sSsSs. sS
dies and 800 looms Pontiac MI P3ntiac .o X sn H.
dies dies and l%" isi @ looms valley Linen Miis 100 spin
dies and 400 looms Whit Rock MIL WeniSfry yuT
vile Mills 1859 spndles and 20 looms
The mills now closed are: Hebronville Miil, N1O
spindles and 5ss looms; Dodgev- Mil, 25.oto spin
dies and b0s looms and Readvle MILL 5000 spirdles
and isl looms.
The cut in the Goddard Mills probably affects
10Oo) persons, the Lipptt Mills about 6oJl ana the
knight Mills 1900
Colonel r H. l. Goddard in discussing the re-
ducon said: Il should have preferred TO keep the
wages where they and run shorter hours, FOR
say four months but the rest decided TO run fu
time shall be obliged 10 do the same. No doubt
the first action taken in Fail River largely due
TO Southern competition The low wages and stand
ard Of living. with the longer hours there make
IT very hard for TO compete with them. In our
mills wages were almost never higher than AT the
present time. except In the period of imitation DUR
ing the War and the workngman lives cheaper to-
day than before. do not think that the cot
ton manufacturing business will ever leave New
Engand for the South but things VII nave seo 20
over us here other than wages and length OF work
ing hours"
Robert Knight said: We have got to do It to put
ourselves a level with the other manufacturers
We opposed TO It. and do not believe II Is going
to better conditions very much. II will only bring
us 10 per cent nearer the Southern manufacturers.
This Is the key 10 the whole situation, and where
| to-day the Southern mills are sold up and can go
on making and selling at profit. we are carrying
stocks and when sell cannot get back
dollar for old
About all the good that this reduction in wages
will do will be open the OF OF the labor
agitators to thngs that they do not TO
THE Legislatures have done much harm in the
North by Interfering and they have attempted
than they had any business TO. A change will have
10 he made In the present laws. or laws will have
10 be made in the South TO regulate the working
hours there"