Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-11
EMPLOYERS MAKE DEFENSE
Plead Impossibility Of Meeting Demand for
Higher Gotten Wages.
COLORADO DISPUTE QUICKLY SETTLED
Fifteen Minutes Sunless for Railroad
Company 60 Agree to wage In
crease for Traipmen and
Conductors.

LOWELL, April 1O.-Tne COTTON manu-
featuring corporations OF Lowell were on
the defense almost the entire session today
in the investigation OF the textile situation
which is being conducted by the state
Board of Cancellation and Arbitration at
the request Of the legislature.
At the opening Of the proceedings Ed Nc
vey, counsel for the Textile council, an
nounced that the burden Of proof lay with
the manufacturers regarding their claim
that they could not pay higher wages. The
manufacturer had admitted that Fall River
and New Bedford paid the operatives more
than was received in Lowell. The execu-
tive committee thus declining to put in ev-
idence, the board called William 5. South
worth, the agent OF the Massachusetts
mills and secretary Of the Lowell associa-
ton, to the stand.
When an advance was given in Fall River,
Mr.. Southworth asserted, the price Of print
cloth was raised SO that the cost came out
Of the pockets Of the consumers, but the
Lowell mills, he declared, are old and not
adapted to finer grades and therefore 1t
was impossible to raise wages.
Mr.. southworth denied that there was
any combination Of mill owners to control
the prices Of goods or to keep down wages.
Attorney McVey questioned Mr.. Southworth
concerning the selling agency for the Mass
achusetts company and its methods. Prices
Of goods sold to the jobbers were fixed at
consultations between the selling agents
and the mill treasurers. Although several
corporations might employ the same selling
agents, Mr.. southworth was not prepared
to admit that it would entirely prevent
competition among those particular mills.
The question Of pooling issues other than
| o-o4rz4 ororottyassB "a M ,tn and Mr. South.
worth said he knew of no pooling arrange
ment among the mills in their management,
but later he admitted the stockholders in
the Lowell mills were largely the same az
those in the Massachusetts, mills in Geor-
gia, mills which had been built to take up
export trade which had been lost to north
ern mills through southern competition. He
pointed out that a modern mill in the south
even were 1t to pay the same wages az
paid here and run the same length OF time
weekly, could undersell the Lowell mills
but the Lowell mills paid as much as any
mill in Massachusetts, on the same class Of
goods.
With the agent still under cross-examl.
nation, the hearing adjourned until Monday
Colorado Dispute Quickly settled.
DENVER, April 10.-A settlement Of thu
question of wages of the trainmen Of thu
colorado q Southern railway has been eff.
tected.
Fifteen minutes after General Manager
Herbert OF the Colorado & Southern roat
went into conference with Vice Grand Mas
;er Lee OF the trainmen and Grand Junior
Conductor Shepherd OF the Order of Rail,
way Conductors the demands OF the meI
had been granted and Mr.. Herbert an,
nounced that the settlement was very sat
isfactory.
The basis Of the agreement Is a IL pei
cent increase for freight men and Is pei
cent increase for passenger men. Regard
ing double-headers the company agrees that
not more than four engines shall be run a
one time on the narrow gauge road. Or
the main line a train is to consist Of thirty
cars, with double engines when necessary
Today the employees of the Colorado Mid.
land train service will take up the matter
Of an increase with General Manager
Schalcks. They will insist upon the samt
terms Just granted the Colorado & Southern
men.
Warning Carpenters May Agree.
NEW YORK, April 1O.-The struggle be.
tween the warning unions Of carpenters wal
resumed today, the fourth day Of the strike
Renewed efforts on the part Of the Amalga.
mated union to install it's members In the
places left vacant by the striking member
Of the Brotherhood were encouraged b.
the announcement that a second firm o.
contractors had consented to employ then
instead of Brotherhood men. The Amalga.
mated men are coming in from the out.
lying districts and arc being put to worl