Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-15
British Industry
Continued from PAGE One)

ment the necessary legislation to put
the recommendations into effect.
The general situation also improved
rapidly. An agreement was reached
between the railway managers and the
railroadmen's unions for reinstatement
of the men, although the unions had
to make certain broad concessions. Ar
rangements also were made for the re-
sumption Of work on the tramways,
the underground tubes and the omni-
buses. Here, doubtless. there will be
considerable difficult details to settle
about the disposition of volunteer
workers who aided the government
and who have Premier Baldwin's
pledge that they will not suffer for
their loyalty.
The only important industry still in
an unsettled state is that of the
printers. Prolonged conferences were
held today between the printers rep
resentatives and the newspaper own
ers. These meetings were adjourned
until tomorrow, no agreement having
been reached. Hence the newspapers
are still appearing in skeleton form.
No trouble is likely to develop in the
engineering and shipbuilding trades,
which were given orders to strike just
before the general strike was called
off. The men in these trades did not
have time to leave their posts to any
great extent. There still remains to be
settled the time for reinstatement Of
the men belonging to the general trans
port workers union.
In the meantime the government is
continuing its emergency regulations
in full force until there is general
return to work in all industries.
The federation of British industries,
embracing employers generally, has is
sued statement denying reports that
the employers were imposing condi-
lions and insisting on wage reductions
before reinstating the men. Reinstate-
ment, this statement says. seems to
be proceeding satisfactorily, though
necessarily slow.
All these details, however, are over
Swallowed by today's important devel-
opment in the mining disputs. The
measures taken by Premier Baldwin
are largely the outcome Of the initia-
tive of Sir Herbert Samuel, chairman
of the royal coal commission, who
came posthaste from Egypt with a
view to doing his best to get the rec
concentrations of his commission put
into force. It was his unofficial me-
diation which induced the trades union
council to call off the general strike
on Wednesday.
The trades union council organ, The
British Worker. captions it's article
dealing with the new situation How
Samuel Saved the Cabinet from the
Fruits of It's Folly" 1t claims that
it was Sir Herberts unofficial work
which led to the ending of the strike
and which bore fruit in the govern
ment's proposals today.
Hopes are running high in govern
ment scircles that Premier Baldwin's
proposals will bring peace to the coal
fields by the Whitsuntide. only a week
away. A. J. Cook, secretary of the
miners federation, and his colleagues,
however, decline to commit themselves
to any public opinion at the present
stage. At any rate several days must
elapse before a decision Is reached as
the plan probably will have to be sub
mitted to a vote by the miners before
it is eventually adopted. 1t should be
noted that the mine owners have not
yet withdrawn their notice embodying
the new lower wages. agreement 1t
was understood that government would
insist on such withdrawal, but the
wins proposals, and it is alleged that
the owners are still standing fast
against withdrawal.