New-York tribune., 1920-10-31
Cotton Mills
Working Basis
35P.C. Normal
No Organized Effort ON the
Part of Manufacturers
to Cut Wages in the New
England Textile Centers
Labor Ready to Resist
Lack of Orders Causes Bic
Curtailment; Dividends
Show Producers Profits
Special Dispatch to The Tribune


NEW BEDFORD, Mass, Oct. 3d.
With production in the cotton mills
Of this city estimated at only 35 pei
cent of normal and several plants
closed down indefinitely owing to lack
OF orders, the slump in the textile in
dustry of New Bedford and surround-
ing territory is the worst experienced
since soon after the signing of the
arncistice, when there WAS temporary
lull. At present FIVE cloth mills and one
yarn mill are closed, two indefinitely
the others announcing shutdown OF
at least a week, affecting more thar
10000 employees. The half dozen cor
poratons operate 851 900 spindles anC
10000 looms.
The majority of the other mills are
operating on curtailed schedule which
averages four days week, III addition
to which the machinery in certain de
Fartments has been shut down owino
to the scarcity of orders. The curtail
ment in Fall River 10 approximate. Y
the same as In New Bedford, manu-
1acturers reporting scarcely any de
nand for goods, despite the fact that
a. present prices are quoted at less
than 30 per cent below those of six
months ago.
Although reductions in wages have
teen announced in several textile cen.
ters, there has so far been no state.
ment from the manufacturers of this
city or Fall River that similar action
is contemplated in this section. Labor
Ieaders say that the union are pre-
pared to fight any cut in wages, and
Abraham Binns, president Of the Tex.
tile Council Of New Bedford, and sec
rotary OF the weavers union, quotes
hgures to show that in the event of re-
ouctlon OF 10 per cent in New Bedford
the situation would not be relieved tc
any appreciable extent. He declares tn at
II this amount went right down to the
retail counter 1t would mean that goods
now selling at 39 cents a yard would
be 38h cents, snd goods selling at 81
yard would be 90 cents.
Wage Conference Soon
Within few days there is to be a
conference between Representatives of
the Fall River unions and the Manu-
facturers' Association to discuss the
wage situation, the present agreeme mt
OF six months expiring on December
l. Last June Fall River mill men in
creased wages Is per cent. the manu-
facturers Of this city taking similar
action. Any action taken by Fall
River will In all probability be fol.
lowed by the mill men Of New Bedford
but at present there is a disposition
among the manufacturers to leave the
wage question alone until every other
avenue has been tried in efforts te
start up buying movement in the
trade.
The managements Of two Fall Rive,
mus nave already reduced wages Il
per cent, but neither corporation is
affiliated with the Cotton Manufac
turers' Association. The operatives
tor the most part are apparently moro
Interested in when tho mills are to re.
sumo full time operations than in the
possibilities of cut in wages. With
the last twelve months the textile
operatives received advances Of 121b
per cent and Is per cent, and in the
last six years increases have amounted
to approximately 175 per cent.
IN New Bedford, which is the cente,
Of the fine goods trade, the mills are
equipped with 100000 spindles anc
oS,397 looms, finding employment fo,
$1,000 operatives. In Fall River, which
largely manufactures print cloths
there are 3,405,000 spindles and 70 or
Icons, which provides EMPLOYMENT fo,
$4,000 operatives. The fact that the
production at present is less than sc
per cent Of normal will give an jdef
OF the effect which the curtailment ha,
had on the market.
Not Laying on Workers
The manufacturers in both citIe,
nave as Tar as possible refrained from
laying off employees indefinitely. pre
ferrlng to operate their plants on ,
curtalled schedule rather than throw ,
certain percentage of workers out O
employment entirely. 4 few of tn,
men who have been laid off have fount
employment as laborers in the building
trades, which during the year have hat
a revival from the slump created by the
restrictions during war times. Other.
are content to await restarting of tn,
mills, and as showing the thrift,
habits of the average textile one rativs
it is reported that there has been littl,
call for relief from the poor depart
ment OF the city, suggesting that earn
lngs during the good times have beer
carefully saved in most cases.
Despite the fact that raw cotton i
onered at tempting prices compared
with a few short months ago, manu-
facturers are refraining from buyins
any more than to provide for presen
needs.
Evidence that the mills made lot O
money during the first half of the yea,
is Forthcoming from the policy of tn,
directors in maintaining liberal divi
dends. The Sharp Manufacturin.
Company, closed indefinitely, has jus
declared $4 for the fourth dividend
aggregating Is per cent for the year
The Butler has paid 2S per cent am
the Quissett % per cent The Nash
awena distributed s16, the Nonquit
$12 and stock dividend of 100 pc
cent. and the Manomet S13 and stocl
dividend of Sc 2-3 per cent. At the en-,
of the third quarter the average divi
dend Of 20 mills was little more thai
16 per cent, and with the final quarte
still to be declared indications poin
to the aggregate being better than .
per cent for the year. which will max
one Of the most profitable in the his
tory Of the industry.
Britain Reducing Debt
{,reat Rrita}r hoo rad,,coJ