The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-23

an examination Of their books by the
board. This examination has been made
by expert accountants OF uneuestioned
ability and integrity. sworn to the service
OF the board.
CANNOT AFFORD 1T.
AS a result Of this examination and the
active Investigation made by the board,
the report says:
The board has been unable TO fnd any
definite foundation for the belief held by
the operatives that they were promised
las. year a future increase in wages
under certain conditions: and that the
claim OF the mills that they cannot af-
ford to increase wages In sustained except
In the case OF the Lawrence Manufactur-
Ing company. whose books show that this
company Is able to pay the advance de-
mended.
The claim OF the operatives that tho
cost OF living had been Increased 20 per
cent IL disposed OF by a reference to the
report OF the Massachusetts Bureau OF
Statistics and Labor. which shows that
the cost OF living. from 1887 To 1902 was
increased 1851 per cent. while during the
same period the wages OF cotton mill
operatives were increased an average OF
about ls per cent. The books OF the
Massachusetts mills show the following
increases In wages since 1898:
Fickermen. strippers, etc. is per cent.
Grinders, 20 per cent
R,nrspinninr hxers. 1876 per cent
Mulespinnlng nxers. 1874 per cent.
Slashermen, 17.2 per cent.
Loomnxers, rs per cent.
HuIesrinners, as per cent.
weavers on plain goods, IA per cent.
Un-kiiled men, ls per cent.
T'ne report says that an examination OF
the list OF stockhoidsrs Of the mills does
not sustain the contention Of the opera
tives that there In combination or as
ISOLATION of mills I'm Lowell controlling
the output and selling price OF the pro-
duce in such a way as to lessen wages.
Tho agents do admit that there Is an
association, but claim the purpose of this
association Is merely TO secure uniformity
In the wage scale. While the manufsc-
turers believe such uniformity Is essen
tial and that its absence would cause
endless trouble, the report states that
the board believes II would be only
equitable that the employees In a mill
/ where the profts are large should share
/ IN that prosperity, even though opera
tives in a less successful mill continue e
4 receive a smaller wage.
AGENTS DO NOT CONTROL.
A table showing the holdings OF stoci
/ IN Lowell corporations is Incorporated IL
| the report 10 sustain the hnding or th'
board. holdings or seiiihg agents are no.
4 sufficient to give them a controlling in
! terest and place them In position where
I they can control the prices IN such. q
way as 10 depress wages" as alleged by
/ the operatives.
On the question OF salaries paid 10 OH.
oials, statistics taken from the United
States census OF 1870 show that out OF
every 800 received from goods made 81.
was paid IN salaries in the Fall River
cotton mills. Nh in New Bedford and
si.s3 In Lowell.
Inspection OF the mills themselves by
/ the board and by a disinterested and i'm
partial expert has shown that the Low eli
corporations labor under a DISADVANTAGES
in comparison with those having modern
/ plants, Even In cases where improved
/ machinery has been introduced the mill is
/ iil-adapted to such machinery.
Lowell manufacturers have TO meet
! Southern competition on coarser goods
/ and that of the best-equipped. modern
| mills In finer fabrics.
In view OF these facts and after careful
| study Of tho reports OF the various ex
| perts employed, tho board finds that the
! claim Of the mills that they cannot AFFORD
! 30 ncrea 80 wages Is sustained. except ir
/ the cass OF tho Lawrence Manufacturing
! company. whose hooks show that this
company in able TO grant the advance
demanded.
The rsnor1 Is sirnrS nv.