Norwich bulletin., 1911-02-18
INTERESTS DE WESTERLY
Granite Workers and Manufacturers Still in Conference Elects Officers Department Commander Abbott Visits Brucker Camp Towing Company Incor- porated

Conference committees of the Gran ite Manufacturers association and the Stone Cutters and the Quarrymen's unions are endeavOring to reach a set clement on the new bill of prices that is to be in effect after the present February. /The manufacturers have offered the stone cutters an increase in minimum present scale from 3S 1-2 cents to 40 cents an hour, while 43 cents is the price demanded. This of- fer has been rejected by the cutters At present, the cutters have halliday Saturday off for three months each year and the manufacturers are agree able to making the time six months, but the cutters insist that no more work be done on any Saturday after noon of the year. The manufacturers make request that the new bill of prices be in force for a period of five years instead of a term of three years as has been the custom in West erly.
 The Quarrymen's union demand is for a minimum wage scale of B cents an hour. the present rate being 2S cents. The manufacturers have offered to make 80 cents the minimum rate. This offer has been rejected. The granite workers have made their for- mai demands and the manufacturers have attempted to reach compro-
 
 prOval of the union workmen. Neither of the parties has yet positively de- clared their ultimatum so there Is still Opportunity to reach settlement without a strike or lockout. The work in hand is being rushed to com ed until the lew bill of prices in it's present or an amended form is agreed upon for a term of three or five years.
 
 An act has been introduced in the Rhode Island general assembly which prohibits judges of district courts from receiving a formal plea of guilty from prisoners charged with offences that are not within the Jurisdiction of such courts to try and determine.
 It frequently happens. according to the author of the act. that persons are arrested and brought before court without counsel and required to plead to very serious charges. , Realizing, perhaps, that they are guilty of some crime, and suppOsing that the com- plaint. hurriedly read, charges merely with such crime. or acting on the ad- vice of police officers or other inter- ested persons that a plea of guilty will result in a light sentence, they plead guilty. : erwardS, the admission of guilt is used with great force against them, and it's effect is almost impossible to over come. The new act provides that in grand jury cases the district court, on the preliminary examination, must en- ter plea of not guilty for the de- fendant. if he is not represented by counsel
 Cyclone Steam Fire Engine com pany, No. 2, of Westerly, in annual session elected officers as follows: George Winterbottom, foreman; AL bert Hill, first assistant; Leon Mur- phy, second assistant; Samuel Sharpe secretary; George McCarroll, treasur- CT; Harry Kingsley, steward; Stephen Manchester, Frank Brown, Charles Lewis and Herbert Greenman, execu- tive committed. 5
 George Winterbottom was elected delegate and George Kemp alternate to the Rhode Island State F'iremens convention fer two years. Clam chow der and the usual accompaniments were served after the business session. An invitation to attend the fair of the Auburn hose company of Auburn R. l., next Friday evening, was ac- cepted. Tie chemical and hose wagon overturned while responding to a fire alarm Wednesday morning and was damaged so that it will be a week be- fore the repairs are completed.