The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-06-01
NEW OFFER
7 I CUTTERS
g.
Gran s Producers Propose
81 Sat Once, $3.50 July
e, and So Sept. l
WITH ALTERNATIVE
FOR ARBITRATION
James Duncan Agrees to
Report Proposition With
out Recommendation

A new proposition of settlement Of
the strike which has prevailed in the
Barre district and elsewhere in this
granite industry follows an important
conference of national granite produc.
ers and committee representing the
| G. c. |. A.. which adjourned in Boston
Saturday, May 20. Under the proposed
terms of settlement, members of tha
| G. G. /. A. in all centers now idle would
receive S7,20 per day Immediately upon
resumption of work, $3.50 on July -
when the next increase to the quarry
workers and Jumpers occurs, and the
SIS minimum Sept. /. This proposed
settlement carries with it an alterna-
tive whereby the entire labor difficulty
may be referred at once to a disinter-
ested, impartial third party for arbi.
tration.
Practically all of the quarry and cut
ting centers in the United States were
represented either by delegates or prox
les among the more than so granite
men who assembled at the call of s,
Hollister jackson, president of the In.
ternational Monumental Granite Pro.
ducers' association. The meeting was
held at the Parker house, and present
at the same time were President James
Duncan, Alex. w. Russell and Nicolas
Williams of the q, G. /. a. During the
Joint committee conferences, the pro.
ducers were represented by Herbert c.
Fletcher OF West Chelmsford, George
Straiton of Barre, and Thomas Bishop
g 4 T.. l..
was called away, Henry C. Smalley, an
other Quincy manufacturer, substitut
ed for him.
Several conferences between the two
committees of three were preceded ear.
lier in the week by meeting of tho
special labor committee of the |. NJ. 6.
Z. A., consisting of nine manufacturers.
This meeting was called in response to
a letter received from the Massachu.
setts board of arbitrat ation and concilia-
ton. in which the board offered its
good offices as an arbiter in the labor
trouble. The letter made known tha
fact that the suspension of work in
the granite industry had not escaped
the notice of the Massachusetts, board
1t further suggested that the trouble
had reached such stage that neither
side seemed able to call a joint COM
mittee conference without embarrass-
ment. Realizing this predicament, tho
chairman of the board thereupon of
fered to assume the responsibility of
calling the two committees into anoth-
er joint session.
At the end of dav of deliberation,
the special labor committee of the pro-
ducers notified Chairman Fisher of tho
Massachusetts, board that il had ae-
cepted the proposal. Mr.. Fisher imme
diately communicated with President
Duncan, who said that the suggestion
OF another joint conference as called
by the board of arbitration was agree
able to his committee.
The result of this arrangement was
a meeting between the committee of
three, with other members of the pro-
ducers labor committee in attendance,
on the morning of Nav 26 Some time
was given over to a discussion of the
arbitration proposal as outlined in
Chairman Fishers letter A letter ad
dressed to the producers president by
the head of the G. c. !. 4, in which
the latter proposed another joint con
ference, also was considered.
On the following day the producers
meeting again with the
cutters representatives, formally re-
luested that settlement be left TO ar
oitration. This request was rejected by
he other committee, it being stated
hat inasmuch as S. only would suffice
here was nothing to arbitrste.
The Joint conference then adjourned
until Saturday afternoon at , o'clock.
N the meantime a special conference of
PRODUCERS was arranged for Saturday
orenoon.
At this conference the subcommittee
4 the producers reported what had
Believing that the fairness
f the arbitration proposal might pres
ntly appeal to the cutters committed.
he conference instructed its commit
ee of three TO renew the proposal at
he Joint committee meeting in the
fternoon
For a second time settlement by ar
,itration met with failure The next
roposaI is the one which is now mp
OF acceptance or rejection. Briefly
tated. il provides a S7.20 minimum
S7.6O July Il, and -
ept. /.
Neither President Duncan nor his two
olleagucs on the committee from the
!. {. l. A. would consent 20 recommend
his proposal to the branches. Later,
oweyer. when the producers in pre-
airing their final proposal combined
9th the arbitration plan and the re-
ised wage scale. as given above. Of
,ring either a. an alternative. Mr..
mncsH. while declining TO recommend,
,nsented TO report it to his branches.
Another Small Barre Firm Signs.
The &. :. Fontans Granite Co. 4
nall firm in the Bolster circle oH
rsnite street. barre. has signed up
ith the G. C. I. A. to paw $ a day.