men's returning to work. A hearing was given on the following day. The union's demand for the work in question was $25 a week, and the firm offered $20.

On January 22 the following decision was rendered: —

In the matter of the joint application of Avery L. Rand of Boston and his employees in the press-room.

PETITION FILED JANUARY 7.

HEARING JANUARY 8, 1902.

This case presents a question of price to be paid to the operators of a web rotary press. Having given the matter careful consideration, the Board awards the following prices in the pressroom of Avery L. Rand:

Pressmen employed on the web rotary press now in use in the printing establishment of Avery L. Rand, who are competent to operate it to its required capacity, to care for it under all ordinary circumstances and to adjust it to its different uses without the assistance of a foreman, $25 per week.

Pressmen who require the assistance of a foreman for the abovementioned purposes, $20.

A strike occurred in the cutting department of the Downs & Watson shoe factory at Lynn on January 11. Efforts were made by the representatives of the cutters' union to effect a settlement, but without success; and thereupon both parties signed an application referring the matter in dispute to the State Board. The cutters returned to work. The Board gave the parties a hearing, and made an investigation as to prices and conditions in factories doing similar work. On February 27 the following decision was rendered:

In the matter of the joint application of the Downs & Watson Company, shoe manufacturer, of Lynn, and its cutters.

PETITION FILED JANUARY 20.

HEARING JANUARY 31, 1902.

In this case a question of a scale of prices was referred to the Board. After public hearing, and investigation by expert assistants, and having fully considered the matter, the Board recommends that the following prices be paid in the cutting department of the factory in question:

Colors, extra over black,

Box calf, same as Dongola.

All patent leather cut single, same as Dongola.

Patent leather foxings and vamps cut double, by the hour.

Patent leather tips cut double, by the hour.

Pattern No. 31, extra,

Golf boots, all styles, by the hour.

All lots 18 pairs or less, on a width, extra,

By agreement of the parties, this decision is to take effect from

January 18, 1902.

By the Board,

BERNARD F. SUPPLE, Secretary.

CHAPIN & GOULD PAPER COMPANY-HUNTINGTON.

During the latter part of 1901 a movement was inaugurated among the work people engaged in the manufacture of high-grade writing papers at the Crescent Mills in Huntington for the purpose of establishing wages somewhat higher than those they were then receiving. The girls requested $1.25 a day, and just before the first of the year consented to make a trial of piece work on practically the same basis as that agreed on at Holyoke the preceding spring. The results were disappointing to the help, and four calender girls sought and obtained employment elsewhere. A meeting was had, the union immediately took action upon this, and voted to strike in case another attempt at adjustment should fail. A conference was requested by the grievance committee, and on January 13 the employer met them in company with James Hawkins of Holyoke, vice-president of the United Brotherhood of Paper Makers of America. The conference ended without tangible result, and the strike was immediately inaugurated. A majority of the help stopped working at about 11 o'clock that day, but, as it was not the desire of the work people to cause the company any unnecessary loss or inconvenience, the machine tenders were instructed to run out their stock and the loft men to remain to dry the paper, which they accordingly did, but left on the 14th. The firemen and watchmen, however, were directed by the union to remain.

The calender girls who went on strike claimed that they could not earn their living expenses, and asked for a weekly wage of $7.50. They further complained of being on occasion put upon other and lower-priced work than that to which they had been accustomed. The strike having sud

denly extended to the other departments, 100 or more being out, the factory was obliged to shut down. The Board communicated with the parties to the difficulty. On January 15 Mr. Chapin and his superintendent met the representatives of the work people in the presence of the Board, and conferred on the question of a settlement. An understanding was finally reached which was satisfactory to the committee, and they promised to lay it before a meeting of the calender girls, to be held in the evening, and to notify the Board of the result. Notice was subsequently received that the girls had voted not to return upon the terms offered. On the following day, January 16, another conference was had between the representatives of the calender girls and the employer, and an understanding was reached, subject to the ratification of Pekoa Lodge at its next meeting, to which the Board was invited. A meeting was forthwith held, the terms were ratified, and both parties affixed their signatures to the agreement, whereby the girls were to receive a minimum of $7.50 per week of 55 hours, the union conceding the right of the employer to discharge for incapacity, negligence or for just cause. ́

AMERICAN WOOLEN COMPANY-MAYNARD.

In the summer of 1901 the American Woolen Company introduced a modern method of testing yarn in the spinning department of the Assabet Mills at Maynard; the old scales were replaced by new, and the employees believed that to stand required tests the yarn had to be onehalf a run finer than before. Finer yarn required more twist to be as strong as the coarser, a fact which diminished the product and the pay. Some time later a second grievance arose concerning over-time work, four nights a

week, the spinners thinking that they were entitled to extra pay for over-time. As the year drew to an end, a request for extra pay was made to the overseer by all the spinners employed in the mill, 60 in number, with a desire that it be handed to the superintendent. On the overseer's suggestion, the request was withdrawn until after the first part of the year 1902, in view of changes that he said had been planned for the mill.

The new year having come, and not hearing from the overseer, the demand was renewed. The committee was not satisfied with the action of the agent, but after two interviews concluded to wait another week, in order to afford him an opportunity to communicate with Mr. Wood at Boston. At this point, however, the union took the matter into its own hands, and on Tuesday, January 14, 1902, struck.

On the third day of the strike, January 17, the union sent a committee to Boston to request the good offices of this Board. An effort was thereupon made to secure a conference, but without success, since Mr. Wood was away. Besides the 60 spinners, the weaving and carding departments were stopped by the management, and 1,100 hands were out of work. The Board, having communicated with the superintendent of the mill, was enabled to report to the committee that there would be no difficulty in securing a conference with the treasurer on his return, and that, in the opinion of the Board, they ought to return to work pending a conference. The committee reported this advice to the union, and it was agreed to return to work on Monday, January 20, during the pendency of negotiations, which was ratified by the union and carried out. On January 20 the spinners, weavers and carders returned.