Norwich bulletin., 1912-03-18
Wage Increase
Of SI0,OOO,OOO
AGGREGATE OF RAISES BY NEW
ENGLAND MILLS.
UNREST AT FALL RIVER
Operatives in That City May Stand
Out for is Per Gent. Ralse-Trou-
bic Feared at South Barre Today.

Boston, March l7.-Wage increases
aggregating over $4,000 600 will go
into the pockets of New England tex
tile workers during the next twelve
months, according to authoritative es-
Inmates of the results of the upward
tendency Of wages in cotton and wool
en- mills. On the basis of an annual
pay roll Of $79,OO0,O 900 IN the wooden
mills, the increase there will amount
to S5,6o0,000, while cotton mill opera
tives will receive an advance of S.
100000.
Connecticut MiIlmen Waiting.
Fully 275, 600 operatives will share in
the raise by April 1 if all the mills
which have not yet Joined in the move
ment follow the lead of larger con-
Germs. Announcements made already
Of contemplated advances in the tex
tile centers of Maine. Massachusetts,
and New Hampshire affect upward Of
100000 mill workers, Rhode Island,
eastern Connecticut and western Mas
sachUsetts cotton manufacturers EN-
ploying many thousands have also in
dicated an intention Of eoualing the
wage advances made elsewhere, but
have given no definite announcement.
They are understood TO be awaiting
the outcome CT the situation in New
Bedford, where a similar grade of fine
cloth is produced.
New Bedford Operators Want 10 Per
Cent.
The New BEDFORD manufacturers
offer of a five per cent. increase will
be acted on early in the present week
BY tne textile council which recently
presented a demand Tor a raise Of ten
per cent. 4 heavy cuItailment of pro
0uctiOn has been necessary in these
mills during the past eighteen months
on account of dull business. ana this
facI Is pointed TO by the manufac-ur-
ers as a reason for the refusal 0f the
ten per cent. request. Although there
is a division OF opinion among the
operatives, many are said TO De in
favor of accepting the manufacturers
offer.
IS Per Cent. Asked at Fall River.
Fall River operatives are also giving
evidence of a spirit of unrest. The
textile council, representing five un-
ions, has voted to reject the offer Of
the manufacturers of an advance of
five per cent and demand Is per cent.
arguing that the outlook for business
in print cloths warrants the greater
raise. Negotiations between the labor
representatives and mill agents will
be continued during the coming week.
Close observans Of the situation believe
q compromise will be arranged.
Lawiessness at South Barre.
South Barre, q Worcester county
village, where q thousand operatives
OF the Barre Wool COInbing companv.
Itd, and the NOruay wOrsted mills are
on strike for more pay, was the scene
SATURDAY Of a ri0tcuS demonstration
reminiscent Of the sLoruiest period of
rhe Lawrence strike. One hundred pc
liCemen and deputy sheriffs VINO dis
persed the rioters with their clubs aft
er . hand-uo- hand encounter. seemed
10 have the situation weil in hand to-
dsy. buJ the guard about the mills VIII
be strengthened tomorrow morning.
Estimated Cost of Lawrence Strike.
Many spinning mills Of New Eng
land get their supplies Of combed wool
from the Barre Wool Cotnbing com
pany. which operates one Of the largest
plants of the kind in this c0Untrv
The entire plant is Haw idle by means
/ OF the strike STatisIiCiaRs figure the
injury by the Lawrence strike 10 man
ufaGtu9 eTs az $1,569 dG9 On business on
hand sHd adv ance business lost; q
fsrfeit by the strikers Gf s5eur an
equal amount in wages and csst
to the state and city Of $500 600 for
lnilitiaElen and extra police.