Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-27
VOLUNTARY ADVANCE
Will Be Given, April 7, by Fall River
Mill Owners.

Fall River. Mass, Feb. 26.-The
agreement to voluntarily advance the
wages of mill operatives here received
its full quota of signatures, today, ana
the increase will go into effect as
planned, on Monday, April I. The pro-
moters of the plan were active, yester-
day afternoon and this morning, and
were able to secure the necessary sig
natures, making formal announcement
of the plan this noon, hoping to fore
stall the agitation of the operatives for
a greater increase to go into effect in
the middle of March.
The advance proposed is general and
is based upon the price paid for weav-
ing a cut of regular 2S-inch 64x64's,
that price being the accepted standard
of wages The present price for weav-
ing regulars is 1873 cents per cut and
the proposed advance will increase it
to q cents, slightly over per cent.
The weavers meeting will be held as
originally called, tonight, and, tomorrow
night, the Textile Council will meet. La
Dor leaders say this voluntary advance
will have no bearing upon their plans
and they will formulate a plan for an
advance of at least 10 per cent. and
ask for a standard length of cut, over
which there has been much controver-
sy.
The agreement in circulation among the
manufacturers will control the action Of
mills employing a total of about q. 900 OPP
eratives. The Fall River Iron Works will
not be affected directly by the agree
ment, that concern which is owned py
NJ. c. ID. Borden of New York, not be-
ing a member of the Fall River Manu-
facturers Associate 1t is understood,
however, that some change will be made
in the wage schedule at these mills
should conditions warrant. Some of the
local mill men are afraid that Mr.. BOr-
den's advance, II given. will be more thar
that now being agreed upon by the other
manufacturers. Whatever happens, the
feeling Is that a strike will be avoided In
Fail River although some hasglinS is eX
pected over the efforts of the unions to
induce the manufacturers to grant raise
of 10 per cent.
Another feature of the revival of the
wage issue here is the effect it may have
in other cotton mill centerS. especially IN
New Bedford where the textile unions
recently asked that prices for weaving
be increased The New Bedford manu-
facturers declined to grant an advance
at the time, but IL is thought the ques-
ton has not been settled. New Bedford
mill men claim that conditions in this
city cannot govern wages there, as the
class of goods made 1t not all the same
The executive committee OF the Weav-
ers Association held an important meet
ing last night. Following thorough
discussion of the wage question the com
mittee voted to present before the genera
meeting of the weavers tonight. proviS-
ion asking of the manufacturers gen
eral increase of 40 per cent. upon all
grades of goods this increase to go into
effect on and after Monday, March IL.
The committee will also present before
the general meeting the request that the
conference with the manufacturers bt
held as soon as possible to determine upon
a recognized standard length of cuts
which the committee suggest be AZ yards.
The Weavers Progressive Association
of Fall River Mass. at special meet
ing, Wednesday night, voted unanimously
10 ask the manufacturers for an advance
in wages of 10 per cent. to take effect
Monday March II. This action amounts
practically to "A refusal of per cent. adj
vance offered. this morning, by the man.
ufacturers wherein the price of weaving
a cut of 2s-inch 64x64 cloth is raised from
1913 cents to q cents.