The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-10-31

WANT MORE PAY.
Fall River Weavers Ask
for Increase.
Claim That Market Conditions Favor
The Request.
Manufacturers Don't See
Tt That Way.
Harmonious Conference Held
Yesterday Afternoon.

Fall River. Mass. October 3d. The mill
operatives OF FALL River, through their
In the textile council.
this afternoon. asked for an increase Of
IL per cent in their wages to take effect
Monday, November Is 1he manufaotur-
ers, through their committee, replied that
they had no power to grant the Increase
asked for. but would refer the request
back to their association for instr uotions.
The conference was called to order By
Secretary Whitehead of the Wesyers'
UniUn and was presided over by rresi-
dent Chase OF the manufacturers. 1t
lasted three hours and the proceedings
were harmonious.
The request was for an increase OF 10
per cent on the old basis of 2 "a cents
yard for regulars. 1t WAS represented by
the Textile council that the market con-
ditions favor the re- quest. The reply of
the committee of manufacturers was
against granting the request, based on
margins. 1t was set forth by the manu-
factnrers that the margin is now seven
points lower than when wages were In
creased last spring. They admitted that
the price of cloth Is higher. but Gotten
costs two cents pound more. The mar
gin figured from prices of cotton and
cloth last spring was II "a cents, while
now 1t Is but o. "a. The Textile council
claimed that these margins, IS in the
past, have been Ieokoned from basis OF
regular prints. which now form less than
10 per cent of the goods manufactured
hers now. 1t was also urged that the
price OF the regulars from which the
margin is reckoned Is hold far lower
comparatively than the other grades of
goods produced. from the loom. There
are 10000 looms in Fall River running
daily and LET'S than 10000 are on the
regular prints from which the magrln is
reckouei. The fair thing, they urged.
was to make the price OF regulars equal
in comparison to the odds, say rs cents
WHEN the price is S-4, and then figure.
margin would then be shown equal to
that point. the last winter. when a res
toratiol WAS granted to the help.
The manufacturers said that che extra
prices for Odds. in many instances, were
a result OF holding the goods on spscu-
laton; that they might have lost by
holding; that the employees in that case
could not have been asked to share the
loss; that the operatives have no right to
share in the result Of a successful spscG-
lation. They also claimed that figuring
regulars at . rs cents. even then the
margin would fall nearly point short
of what Ii was when wages ware raised
last winter. The textile representatives
insisted that the present condition when
odds and special grades ers selling so
high. 1t is perfectly fair to urge for an
Increase. The manufacturers commit
tee contended that the mills could not
make fair returns to stockholders II the
Increase should be granted. However.
they were not authorized TO take any
position at today's conference, but were
present to hear what their employees had
to say and report to the association.
Seoretary Whitehead of the Weavers,
who is also secretary of the Textile coun-
Gil, said after the meeting that he was
satisfied with its progress oven while
nothing definite was decided. Asked
what would be done II the manufacturers
refused to comply. he said that only
could be determined by the several labor
ORGANIZATIONS.
Secretary Rounseyille of the manufac-
turers, said he did not feel that the mills
could afford such an increase. but the as
ISOLATION must settle that question for 1t
aaIf