and paving cutters, who were in our employ April 30, 1902, and members of the Quarry Workers' Union. 5. That an average of 20 men shall constitute a gang for one blacksmith sharpening paving cutters' tools. 6. That paving stocks be quarried on dimension as near as practicable and consistent with other work. Grout stock to have one smooth or split face. 7. That paving cutters shall be paid 25 cents per hour, when requested to work by the hour. 8. That the price for cutting paving blocks shall be as follows: For large New York and Boston blocks, $21.50 per M; large Philadelphia blocks, $18 per M; for Washington blocks, 7 to 12 inches long, 3 to 4 inches wide, 5 to 6 inches deep, $16 per M; for blocks 7 to 9 inches long, 3 to 3 inches wide, 3 to 4 inches deep, $15.50 per M. That on and after March 1, 1903, a further advance of $1 per M be paid on large New York, large Boston and Philadelphia blocks. 9. If any special paving blocks other than those specified above are required, the price for cutting same shall be proportionately equal to the rate paid for cutting other blocks as named above. 10. That any man desiring to leave his employer shall have his pay in full within 48 hours thereafter. 11. That 25 cents per hour be paid to all good quarrymen while engaged in trimming paving blocks in vessels' holds. 12. That no discrimination shall be shown to any man by either employer or employees. 13. It is mutually agreed between the quarry workers and employers that any disagreement of any kind that may arise shall be settled by and between the employer and employees on the works where the dispute arises. Pending such settlement, it is agreed that there shall be no strike, lockout or suspension of work. The same failing to agree, the dispute to be left to a committee of three, one to be selected by the manufacturers, one by the employees, the third to be selected by the two so appointed, and who must be a disinterested party; the decision of a majority to be final. 14. That 1 cent per hour be further advanced to men as by article 4, commencing May 1, 1903, if business will warrant this advance, 30 days' notice being given. 15. Where monthly payment obtains, pay day shall not be later than the 10th of each month. 16. That this agreement take effect when signed, and stay in force until May 1, 1904. Should either party desire a change at the expiration of said period, three months' notice shall be given previous to May 1, 1904. Result.The following letter was received: AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR, State Board of Conciliation and Arbitration, Boston, Mass. DEAR SIR: The Quarry Workers' Union No. 8233 of Cape Ann, Mass., desires to thank you all for your kind services in bringing about a settlement in our late strike which was satisfactory to all concerned. Wishing you all success in your noble work, I remain, Yours, CARL BERGSTROM, Union Secretary. No further difficulty in the granite industry at Cape Ann has come to the attention of the Board. BOWKER, TORREY & CO. - BOSTON. In 1901 the marble cutters, polishers, soapstone and slate workers requested an 8-hour day, to go into effect September 1. Nearly all the stone manufacturers employing that kind of workmen conceded the demand, but it is alleged that no notice whatever was taken of it by Bowker, Torrey & Co., at Boston. Forty marble cutters ceased working for that firm and went out on strike on February 27, 1902. By March 1 many of the strikers had secured work elsewhere, as the men claimed, at much higher wages. On March 3 the Board interviewed both parties and offered its mediation, with a view to bringing about a friendly adjustment. On the 4th the Board mediated and renewed its mediation on the 5th. The employer was willing to concede the demand, to take effect from the first of next January, stating that all the contracts of the firm were based on a 9-hour work day. The men refused to concede a date so distant. After some hesitation the employer finally offered to concede the demand on September 1. The strikers declined to act upon this offer until they had communicated with 16 of their associates who had gone to work for Fuller & Co. at Pittsburgh, Pa., since it was first necessary to get their collective opinion on the question of declaring the strike off; this could not be obtained for several days, until, say, about March 10. The men in question who had gone to Pennsylvania were workmen of the highest grade and the most desired by the firm. Their families were all in Boston and the vicinity, and for that reason the men might be satisfied with the terms offered. If so, the others would declare the strike off, provided the firm recognized the union, or at least did not ignore it. The Board thereupon suggested a conference, which was finally accepted on both sides; and the president of the union and the firm were brought together by the Board on March 11 to negotiate the terms of a final settlement, which was reached on the 14th. On the 17th the men returned to work. CARPENTERS - BOSTON. On the 5th of March J. E. Potts, business agent of local union No. 33, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, and John F. Medland, business agent of Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, called, and requested the good offices of the Board to bring about a conference between the journeymen represented by them and the carpenter builders of Boston and the vicinity, for the purpose of effecting a trade agreement to harmonize certain differences that would otherwise before long lead to an open rupture. The Board called upon the Contractors and Builders' Association, and stated the request of the workmen. The president undertook to lay the matter before the association, and to notify the Board of the conclusion reached. Other employers were visited, with the same end in view. On the 31st of March the following petition was filed: To the Honorable the State Board of Conciliation and Arbitration, Boston, Mass. The undersigned respectfully represent that a strike or lockout is seriously threatened in the carpenter branches of the building industry in Boston and vicinity in this Commonwealth, involving general contractors, builders and manufacturers in the wood industry, and about 5,000 employed by said manufacturers, builders, etc., and that the nature of the controversy, briefly stated, is as follows: on or about the 28th of January, 1902, a circular setting forth certain conditions under an agreement, with request that the carpenter builders connected with Master Builders' Association, 166 Devonshire Street, also with Contractors and Builders' Association, 95 Milk Street, would grant said petitioners a conference to consider said circular, the said master carpenters having failed to notify of the appointment of committee or to acknowledge the receipt of circular. Wherefore, your Honorable Board is respectfully requested to put itself in communication, as soon as may be, with said employer and employees, and endeavor, by mediation, to effect an amicable settlement between them; and, if the Board considers it advisable, investigate the cause of said controversy, and ascertain which party thereto is mainly responsible or blameworthy for the existence or continuance of the same. Dated this twenty-fifth day of March, A. D. 1902, in behalf of the United Carpenters' Council of Boston and vicinity. JOHN F. MEDLAND, Chairman of Committee, 812 Saratoga Street, East Boston. Secretary of Committee, 724 Washington Street. In the first fortnight of April several interviews were had with the representatives of both parties. The following correspondence sets forth the aim of the Board at this stage of the negotiations: STATE BOARD OF CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION, Contractors and Builders' Association of the City of Boston. GENTLEMEN : - It is our intention to invite you and your employees to appear by committee at a meeting of the Board at the State House on a day to be determined later. The purpose is to devise some plan whereby the good feeling existing between the master and journeymen carpenters of Boston and the vicinity may be safeguarded. The method in view, which has been found to yield the best of results in other industries, is not a reference of any point of possible controversy to the judgment of a third party, but rather a conference of the parties in interest in the presence of the Board, at an early date, on the question of a trade agreement. The subject matter of the agreement would of course be determined by the parties. If this proposition is acceded to, we should be pleased to receive prompt advice thereof, with an expression of opinion as to the most available time for the proposed conference. The experience of the Board, however, while it is in many quarters considered a valuable help to both parties, is not essential; and, if you prefer to meet the men's committee under other auspices at another place, it is by no means impossible to attain good results, which consummation is all that we seek to bring about. If such method be preferred, we beg leave to suggest that a clause regulating the mode of settling such differences of |