The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-02-28
Proposition First Presented by Manutaciur.
ers Not Satisfactory.
WAS FOR RAISE OF 6 ~ PER CENT.
Finally Agreement Was Reached 10 Restore Cul Of
Nine Per Cent Made In 1898 Restoration
TO Go Into Effect April g.

Fall River. Mass, Feb. 2s.-As the re-
suit OF three hours conference be-
tween the executive board of the Man
afacturers' association and the Fall
River Textile Council representatives.
held yesterday afternoon, the final prop
osition TO the operatives was a complete
restoration Of the wage scale, prior To
the cut down OF Jan. 3. 1898. The cut
at that time was one ninth i'm all de-
partments. which meant a decrease OF
over $4,000 In the weekly payroll OF the
mill workers OF the city. The restora-
tion will date from April next. The
offer Of the manufacturers included a
clause, requiring the endeavors of the
local labor leaders TO bring about the
adoption of sliding scale at the con-
venience of the manufacturers and oper-
atives alike. The restoration, however.
was not made conditional upon the adop-
tion of the sliding scale.
The expected proposition from the
manufacturers OF partial restoration
was presented TO the meeting in the
form of an offer of 6i2 percent raise.
to go into effect on April next, and the
balance to be restored when cloth had
advanced to cents a yard. This prop
ositlon was met by the members OF the
Textile Council with the argument that
the delegates of the organizations rep
resented were instructed to accept moth
ing short of a full restoration OF wages.
The argument was advanced on behalf
of the Manufacturers association that
sliding scale might be adopted which
would be just 10 both employers and
employees, and which could be based
upon figures that would approximate a
restoration.
Many speeches were made. II was
called to the attention of the council
that the wages paid at present in Fall
River were higher than those paid i'm
New Bedford or Rhode Island cotton
towns. and much higher than I'm the
smaller New England towns and in the
south.
The manufacturers finally submitted
the following written proposition:
I'm consideration OF the fact that each
and every member OF the Textile Coun-
Gil now pledges his individual support
10 the endeavor to arrive at some method
OF regulating wages by sliding scale.
to be hereafter arranged, we (the man
ufacturer9 agree that wages shall be
advanced upon Monday, April 3, 1892 to
the schedule existing previous TO Jan.
i, 1898"
Although the date. April 3, was not
rs soon as the opera atives wished the
restoration to take place. it was near
enough to end the conference. The i'm
structions to the Textile Council from
the unions had been to demand an i'm
mediate" restoration. After the secret
session the Textile Council adjourned
TO their hail to take action and adopt n
recommendation TO the several textile
bodies, meetings OF which will be called
at once.
The organizations must Yet pass upon
the manufacturers proposition. when
their sentiment will be referred TO the
manufacturers either in acceptance or
otherwise. 1t is very probable that the
operatives will accept without condition
the proposition.
The matter OF a future sliding scale
was not put into definite shape, as il
must follow the formal acceptance Of
the manufacturers offer OF restoration.
1T is not discussed in labor circles. ex-
cept in the abstract. The restoration
Is Of much greater immediate import
ance, as II effects about 10000 hands.
The manufacturers representatives say
absolutely nothing concerning the slid
Ing scale, refusing To be interviewed.