PARIS (TEXAS) UNION No. 438 reports signing a union contract with the Bennett Printing Company, the largest printery and bindery in that part of Texas.

AN increase of $1.50 per week for all hand compositors on both news and job work and $2 per week for machine operators has been put in force by Salem (Ohio) Union No. 441, with every office in town with one exception-a one-man affair-on the union list.

UNDER date of December 5, Howard S. Jarrett writes that Charleston (W. Va.) Union No. 146 has secured the signatures of all employing printers in its jurisdiction to a new scale of prices, effective January 1, 1911, to run for two years. The scale provides an increase of $1 per week for all hand compositors-$18 for day work and $19 for night work, the machine scale remaining the same, $19 and $21.、

THE scale committee of Hartford Union No. 127, Sherman N. Bartlett, chairman, and assisted by Robert S. Maloney as a representative of the International Union, reports signing a new wage agreement with the employers in both the newspaper and book and job branches. The morning newspaper scale is advanced from $24 to $25 per week, the evening scale from $21 to $22, the book and job hand scale from $16.50 to $18, and the book and job machine scale from $20 to $22.

ON November 30, the scale committee of Minneapolis Union No. 42, together with Bert G. Brady, International representative, met a committee acting for the union employers in the book and job branch of that city and agreed on a new wage schedule to be in force for one year from January 1, 1911. The compact provides for $20 per week for handmen, instead of $18; and for $23 per week for day work and $25 for night work on machines, instead of $21.60 and $24. The scale is 50 cents per week above the one negotiated by St. Paul Union No. 30 a few weeks before.

WITH the assistance of John C. Daley, International representative, an agreement to run for two years has been signed with the Rochester Herald, under the terms of which Typographical Union No. 15 secures an increase. An advance of $1 per week for both hand and machine work is in effect the first year and another dollar is added the second year of the contract. This will make the final scale $24 per week for operators and $21 for handmen on the night side, while the day scale provides for a final figure of $21 for operators and $20 for handmen. As the agreement with the Evening Times included a provision that when the Herald contract was renewed the same would apply to the first-named paper, the employes engaged at night on the Times also receive a raise.

A NEW agreement, covering a period of three years, has been secured by Trenton Union No. 71 from the Employers' Association of Printers, the figures being as follows: Jobbers and handmen in book and job offices (old scale, $18), from October 8, 1910, to October 8, 1911, $20 per week; the next year, $20.50, and the last year, $21. Machine operators in book and job offices and operators and handmen on evening papers, from October 8, 1910, to October 8, 1911, $23 per week; the next year, $23.50, and the last year, $24. Machine operators and handmen on morning papers, from October 8, 1910, to October 8, 1911, $24 per week; the next year, $25.50, and the last year, $26.50. The old newspaper scale provided for $21 and $22.50 per week for day and night work, respectively.

A STRIKE of short duration occurred at Streator, Ill., the last of November, in an attempt on the part of Typographical Union No. 328 to secure an increase in its wage scale. International Representative Michael Colbert's services, in connection with the local executive committee, resulted in a compromise agreement which advanced the pay of journeymen $1.50 per week and of foremen $2 per week, the operators' scale remaining at the old figure. The following are the figures: Ad and job men, $15 per week; foremen, $17; operators, $18. All time over eight hours is price and one-half. The contracts extend over a period of one year, and all who ceased work to enforce a settlement of the controversy were reinstated without prejudice.

MATERIAL increases in the wage scales in both the book and job and newspaper branches have been secured by Bakersfield (Cal.) Union No. 439. A flat scale for all classes of work now prevails, $24 per week being paid for day work, while the

night wage is $25.50. Shortly after the agreement was signed, the management of the Californian, an afternoon paper, voluntarily assented to paying the morning scale.

SINCE Typographical Union No. 297 was organized a few months ago at Concord, N. H., three offices have signed contracts with the organization, the minimum scale being $15 per week.

IN May, 1909, the management of the Morning Telegraph of New London, Conn., decided to go back to the nine-hour day and operate the plant on a non-union basis. It took just eighteen months to convince them that a union composing room was the profitable kind, so that publication is again on the fair list.

REPORTS from Harrisburg (Ill.) Union No. 562 show that organization's success in securing sig. natures of all employing printers in its jurisdiction to the following scale, for one year from December 16, 1910: Foremen, $16.50 per week; assistant foremen, admen and make-ups, $15; linotype operators, $18; simplex, $15; handmen, $14.

SECRETARY EVANS, of Aberdeen (Wash.) Union No. 573, reports a new scale, effective December 5, 1910, the pay of foremen on morning papers being increased from $30 to $33 per week, foremen on evening papers from $27 to $30, foremen of book and job offices from $24 to $27, day handmen and operators from $24 to $27, night handmen and operators from $27 to $30, machinist-operators (day) from $27 to $30, machinist-operators (night) from $30 to $33.

PRESIDENT KINSKEY, of Buffalo Union No. 9, reports a fine increase in the newspaper scale for that city. The wages have been on a flat basis of $20.50 per week for afternoon papers and $23.50 for night work. This is the way No. 9's president says it was settled: "We asked for $24 for day work and $27 for night work, and we got $23 for day work this year and will receive the other dollar next year; $26 this year for night work and $27 next year, with price and one-half for overtime. Foremen, assistant foremen and machinists also get a dollar increase."

SUCCESS crowned the efforts of Springfield (Mass.) Union No. 216 in securing an advance in wages for the newspaper employes. The increase amounted to $3 per week for all admen, floormen, etc., on evening papers, and $2 per week for operators. The scale for morning papers was increased $2 per week for all admen, floormen, etc., and $1 per week for operators. The minimum scale for afternoon newspapers is now $19 for admen, floormen, etc., and $20 for operators; on morning papers, admen, floormen, etc., $23 per week, and operators, $24. Operators, both day and night, work seven and one-half hours, and other employes eight hours.

The National Board of Arbitration met in St. Louis, Mo., on November 16 and 17, 1910.

There were present, representing the American Newspaper Publishers' Association, H. N. Kellogg, of Chicago, Ill.; Elbert H. Baker, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Thomas Rees, of Springfield, Ill.

Representing the International Typographical Union were President James M. Lynch, Second Vice-President Hugo Miller and Secretary-Treasurer J. W. Hays.

The first case to come before the board was the Chicago scale contention between Typographical Union No. 16 and the Chicago Newspaper Publishers' Association. The case had been before the board at a previous meeting when no decision was

reached. The same parties that appeared before the arbitration board previously were again present and appeared before the board at this session. A full discussion was had on all phases of the case, but no decision was reached and the case was again postponed.

The board then took up the scale contention between Memphis Typographical Union No. 11 and the Memphis Commercial Publishing Company. Representatives of Memphis Union and the Memphis publishers appeared before the board and after hearing both sides of the case the board rendered a decision, the main features being as fol lows:

Compositors on morning papers, for handwork, shall receive 564 cents per hour. The assistant foreman shall receive $27.50 per week; admen shall receive $27.50 per week; chief proofreader shall receive $27.50 per week; assistant proofreader shall be paid at the time scale for compositors. The foreman shall receive $32.50 per week. All machine operators on morning papers shall be paid by the piece, at the following rates: (a) Brevier, 122 cents; (b) minion, 112 cents; (c) nonpareil, 101⁄2 cents; (d) agate, 101⁄2 cents. The machine tender shall receive $5 per day. The office shall provide all necessary help for the machine tender.

At the previous meeting of the National Arbitration Board a scale contention was decided between Oakland Typographical Union No. 36 and the Oakland publishers. A dispute had since arisen regarding the time the said decision should become effective and the matter was brought before the board once more for consideration. Judgment was rendered in this case, involving question of back pay, that the decision of the national board, rendered on October 7, 1910, should be effective on the date of January 3, 1910, in accordance with a paragraph to that effect appearing in both the union's and the publishers' propositions, and further in accordance with stipulation signed by the union and the publisher.

A scale contention between Bellingham Typographical Union and the Bellingham publishers that failed of a decision at the previous meeting of the board was again taken up. Fred Hudson appeared before the board representing Bellingham Typographical Union. After a discussion of this case it was again laid over because of failure to reach an agreement.

The National Arbitration Board met in the library of the New York Staats-Zeitung in New York city, on December 15, 1910.

There were present President Herman Ridder, of the American Newspaper Publishers' Association, and Commissioner H. N. Kellogg, representing the publishers, and President James M. Lynch, Second Vice-President Hugo Miller and SecretaryTreasurer J. W. Hays, representing the International Typographical Union.

The question before the board was the scale contention between the Chicago Publishers' Association and Chicago Typographical Union No. 16. This scale had twice been before the board and both times there had been failure to reach an agreement. The question was discussed by the board on December 15 and 16 and the representatives of

the Chicago publishers and of Chicago Typographical Union No. 16 were heard upon both days. The board again failed to reach an agreement upon the Chicago case and it was once more laid over.

The board then gave consideration to a dispute on the construction of a contract in Paterson, N. J., and rendered the following decision:

It is the decision of the National Board of Arbitration that, under the provision of the local contract reading: "and they agree further that on and after July 10, 1910, all proofreaders shall be members of the local typographical union," the Paterson News must have all proof that is read, read by members of Paterson Typographical Union No. 195.

The board then took up the contention between the Denver publishers and Denver Typographical Union No. 49, regarding the reproduction of a Sunday supplement on the Denver News, and rendered the following decision:

It appears from an examination of the papers in this case that the Associated Sunday Magazine has been reset since its first use as a part of the Sunday issue of the Denver Rocky Mountain News, and that in the decision of July, 1910, the National Board of Arbitration provided that "in all other matters present conditions are to continue."

The decision of the National Board of Arbitration, therefore, is that the continuance of "present conditions" meant that the resetting of the Sunday magazine must continue during the life of said award made by the National Board of Arbitration. J. W. HAYS, Secretary.

FACTS AND FIGURES.

Writing under this caption in THE TYPOGRAPHICAL JOURNAL for May, 1910, I discussed in an optimistic way what was then an apparently failing general fund and a tendency financially toward a monthly deficit. In fact, the balance under the heading "General Fund" for ten months previous had shown an average deficit of $2,550 monthly and had been made the basis of an anteelection attack upon the financial policy of the executive council. Analyzing the figures and indicating what I believed was the real cause for the deficit, I pointed out the injustice of the position taken by the critics-to use a mild term-and predicted that as the cause was removed-which was likely in the then immediate future-and as other conditions adjusted themselves normally, there would be a tendency quite the reverse, and possibly a monthly balance on the safe side of the ledger would replace the deficit. I claimed no credit then as a prophet; what I predicted then was based upon facts and figures accessible to any member who cared to look for them in THE TYPOGRAPHICAL JOURNAL. I claim no credit now as a prophet, although my prediction has been fulfilled amply by an increase in the general fund amounting to $6,623.88* in the past nine months. I merely adhere consistently to the optimistic opinion which I held then and sound anew the warning note that it is well to investigate thoroughly the statements of the agitator pouring forth his wrath in the forum and particularly when figures are offered, to find out what the figures really mean, to ascertain

*The December balance, $1,018.18, would bring the increase to $7,642.06.-Carroll.

the real truth which they tell-not the untruth which they may be made to tell by skilful combination or elimination by those practiced in mental legerdemain.

In citing figures and amounts here, as in the previous article, the month named is always the month of publication in THE TYPOGRAPHICAL JOURNAL, not the fiscal month. Those who choose to verify my figures will have no difficulty, therefore, in doing So. It is well to bear in mind also that by "general fund" is meant the funds of the International Typographical Union exclusive of the Home fund and the pension fund. In all reports these funds and the receipts and expenses therefor are segregated, as they should be.

In the nine months since February, 1910, which was the last month covered in the May article, the general fund has increased from $79,113.01 to $85,736.89, or $6,623.88, an average increase of $735.99 per month. Six months have shown an excess of receipts over expenditures and a favorable balance, as follows: March, $3,652.93; May, $2,890.92; June, $898.15; July, $34.49; August, $1,584.54; November, $2,942.29. Three months show a deficit, as follows: April, $623.78; September, $4,231.61, and October, $524.05. The following table shows monthly receipts and expenditures, the monthly balance, and the variation of the balance from month to month, as expressed by the excess of receipts over expenditures, or vice versa:

A plausible explanation of the variation in the monthly balances would be that the April deficit represents a continuance of the tendency of the previous year, a tendency which was overcome by the tremendous receipts of March, $22,345.79, which are nearly $4,000 in excess of receipts for any other month under review, as will be seen from table No. 1. March was an extraordinary month because in that month there came to the treasury a considerable amount of arrearages of dues paid by those who sought to avoid the penalty of the new four months' suspension rule. The deficits in September and October are due in large part to convention expenses, $5.101.30 being chargeable to this account in September, and $3,033.64 for publication of the proceedings in the October budget. An examination of the figures for the nine months shows, too, that in the extremely irregular "general expense" account must be found the explanation of variations in balances, other accounts showing no marked variation in the period.

Aside from the item "defense and benefits" for March, except in the column "general expenses,' the variation in amounts from month to month is in hundreds-not thousands of dollars. Leaving the March item for subsequent consideration, we find that April, June, September and October stand out as months in which general expenses were large. The itemized accounts in THE TYPOGRAPHICAL JOURNAL indicate, as already noted, that convention expenses caused the variations in September and October; they show also that in June a special assessment of $1,000 was paid to the American Federation of Labor for the hatters, and that in April the International Typographical Union invested $2,324.34* in a typecasting machine to be used in producing union labels of type metal. The object of this investment was to make labels at so much smaller cost than the electrotypes hitherto in use as to admit replacing them so frequently that there need be no more complaint of "smooth" labels. Eliminating those extraordinary items for purposes of comparison, the monthly general expense account reads: March, $4,245.31; April, $4,773.29; May, $4,068.99; June, $4,221.64; July, $4,671.74; August, $3,973.29; September, $5,095.43; October, $3,019.86; November, $3,854.79, a much better showing.

But these explanations cover only special items, not general tendencies. In my previous article I found "special assistance" the most interesting item and based my prediction of an improvement in balances upon approaching decrease of payments on this account. In the ten months previous payments for special assistance averaged $3,000. In the nine months now under review payments for this purpose have been: March, $2,608.75; April, $1,460.75; May, $1,526.80; June, $1,659.50; July, $1.943; August, $1,625.50; September, $1,955.28; October, $1,646; November, $1,263. March is close to the average for the previous ten months, and nearly $900 in excess of the average for the

*The total cost of this installation was $2,985.09. See September JOURNAL, Supplement, page 73, under sub-heading "Labels."-Carroll.

nine months, which is $1,743.14, and thus explains the variation of March from other months under the caption defense and benefits in table No. 2. But a more interesting fact disclosed by the figures is that average payments for special assistance for the nine months are $1,250 less per month than in the preceding ten months, and this fact is one explanation of the tendency to betterment.

Closely associated with defense is the expense of maintaining organizers. In the earlier ten months payments for this purpose amounted to $28,008.85, an average of $2,800.89 per month. In the nine nearer months $23,648.05 has been paid for organizers, an average of $2,627.57 per month, an average monthly saving of $173.32. Other items under defense and benefits show average variations as follows: Supplemental trade education cost $112.80 per month, as compared with $350 previously; anti-tuberculosis agitation cost $32 per month, as compared with $150 previously; label campaigning.cost $298.63 per month, as compared with $570 previously. The monthly saving from the five accounts considered under defense and benefits are: Special assistance, $1,250; organizers, $173.32; supplemental trade education, $237.20; anti-tuberculosis, $118; label, $271.37; a total of about $2,050.

It would be lamentable if decreased payments for any of these causes indicated abandonment of any of them or a decreased efficiency. Such probably is not true. In the case of special assistance expenditures for the eight-hour day have been largely reduced and should soon be entirely eliminated; a reduction here affects the organizers' expense column. The first cost of instituting supplemental trade education was the largest; maintaining this feature of our trade work should be less expensive and the figures show that tendency. Just at present the period of anti-tuberculosis exhibits has passed, and agitation the country over is less expensive. Of the label campaign it may be said that as the system is perfected expenditures should and do decrease; in other words, as the campaign progresses occasions for expense are reduced by results accomplished, and experience teaches more effective ways of securing results at smaller expense. For purposes of comparison with table No. 2 the corresponding figures for the ten months previously considered are produced here:

Glancing at and comparing the averages it will be noticed that average payments for defense and benefits in the past nine months were $5,239.23 as compared with $7,189.08 in the previous ten months, a saving of $1,949.85, or very close to the $2,050 already indicated as saved from the five sources enumerated, indicating that on all other items under defense the increased cost has averaged $100 per month. As per capita, increasing with larger membership, to the label trades department of the American Federation of Labor, the expenses of the Joint Conference Board and the International Board of Arbitration, both indefinite, are included here, the variation is not remarkable. Burial benefits averaged $3,824.44, as compared with $3,307 in the previous ten months, an increased cost of $517.44, indicating a larger number of deaths, as might be expected in a larger membership. General expenses average $5,453.71 as against $5,185.94, an increase of $267.77 per month, which would be covered in large part if the expense of the new typecasting machine, $2,324.34, were averaged in nine monthly payments of $258.26, and would indicate that our increased membership is being carried at little additional cost. THE JOURNAL has cost $2,666.09 a month, as compared with $2,706.33, an average saving of about $40.

In the nine months the total revenue has been $161,275.18 as compared with $158,328.37 for the Stated in monthly averages previous ten months.

the income has been $17,919.46 as compared with $15,832.84. This increase of revenues has come

from three sources: first, an increase of membership. The membership reports for the ends of the fiscal years 1909 and 1910 show an increase of 3,000 members to 47,000, and the average per capita payments for six months, including November, indicate an average membership paying dues of between 49,000 and 50,000. An increase of 3,000 members would mean $1,350 additional revenue from per capita, $900 of which would accrue to the general fund, and $450 to the Home fund; an increase of 5,000 members would mean $2,250 additional revenue, $1,500 for the general fund and $750 for the Home. How much of the increased membership should be credited to the ten months' period ending with February, 1910, and how much to the nine months since does not appear, but its potential effect on revenue is selfevident, and is actually demonstrated by the figures. Secondly, the four months' suspension rule discourages laxity of per capita payments and conversely puts a premium upon prompt payment, thus being effective as a revenue measure. And finally, the application and reinstatement fees in effect since January 1, 1910, are a new source of revenue. In the published figures the amounts of these fees are combined with JOURNAL subscriptions and receipts from sale of supplies to subordinate unions, and so it is not possible to determine just what

*If the total cost of the typecaster, $2,985.09, were divided by 9, making $331.66, the increase in general expenses would be more than accounted for, and the figures would show a decreased general average.-Carroll.