speaking, in the arbitration, have treated the Board with courtesy and have readily supplied such information as desired by the Board.

As a result of the investigation, the Board is unable to find in the prices paid by other manufacturers, even those named by the firm as their closest competitors in the market, any sufficient reason or justification for the reduction which was put in force on December 1, 1896, for the work of beating out, heel-nailing on the National machine, shaving on the Buzzell machine, scouring and breasting heels and burnishing heels.

It is impossible for the Board to foresee all the practical consequences of this decision, but it is natural to expect that the employees will think that the attitude of the firm ought to be changed, or at least reconsidered after this finding by an impartial public board, appointed by law to ascertain and declare what is right for employer and employees in cases of this character. In view of the probability that the mutual relations of the firm and their employees may again be the subject of friendly discussion by them, the Board deems it important that certain things be borne in mind by both parties, viz.:

It should be noted that this factory has always been a good factory for the employees to work in, and that the relations between the firm and their work people have always been pleasant, and, in the main, mutually satisfactory. There is everything in favor of preserving this condition of things. While in many respects the conditions under which these employees work are sufficiently favorable, it may be, and it so appears to

the Board, that in making the reductions complained of, the firm did not make sufficient allowance for certain other conditions, such as the frequency of small lots, which operate more unfavorably to the workmen in this factory than in any other factory investigated, and the obvious difference between the product of this factory and some others paying lower rates of wages.

The firm said frankly that they could not learn with any certainty the prices paid by their competitors, but the Board has obtained those prices, and in some of the shops cited by the firm, where reductions have lately been put in force, the reduced prices in those shops are nearer to Williams, Clark & Co.'s old prices than to their new list, when quality of work and general conditions are kept in mind. But while the Board has considered, and has given its decision on the question, whether or not the firm's position is justified by the competition of wage lists, it ought nevertheless to be remembered in any future discussion of the subject, that other considerations may, and often do, cause one side or the other to concede something for the sake of harmony and agreement. The firm knows better than anyone else just how hard it is to sell goods in a poor market, already well nigh filled by other sellers equally active and enterprising. Neither employer nor employees need to be told that when times are hard and business depressed, it should be impossible for any difference to arise which cannot be adjusted in some manner, if only temporarily or until business shall improve.

Finally, it is hoped that this firm and their employees will be willing to reconsider all the matters involved in this case, with a disposition, as heretofore shown on both sides, to agree to what is reasonably fair under all the circumstances.

Result.

By the Board,

BERNARD F. SUPPLE, Clerk.

For subsequent occurrences see re

port on page 34.

On January 18, a joint application was received from N. C. Griffin, of Cochituate, shoe manufacturer, and his employees in the lasting department, requesting the Board to fix prices for the work of lasting on the Consolidated Hand-Method machine. The workmen had struck, but returned to work as a condition precedent to arbitration proceedings. The action of the Board is sufficiently set forth in the decision rendered February 19, as follows:

In the matter of the joint application of N. C. Griffin, of Wayland, and the lasters in his employ.

PETITION FILED JANUARY 18.

HEARING, JANUARY 21, 1897.

In this case the Board is requested to fix prices for lasting in the factory of N. C. Griffin, at Cochituate, on the Consolidated Hand Method machine.

Having duly considered the evidence and the statements of parties and expert assistants, and in view of all the circumstances and conditions of the factory in question, the Board recommends that the following prices be paid in this factory:

Pulling over, pounding up and pulling lasts:

Men's ties and back seams,

Men's brogans,

For any dozen including a No. 13, and for any whole

dozen of No. 12's, extra, .

Per Doz. Pairs.

$0.19

.18

.18

.10

.05

.00

A sufficient number of racks and lasts to be furnished to the workmen.

By agreement of the parties this decision is to take effect from January 18, 1897.

By the Board,

BERNARD F. SUPPLE, Clerk.

Result. -On February 20, a letter was received from Mr. Griffin desiring to know

whether the half a cent extra

awarded for

extra sizes was to be divided between the operator and puller over, or between the solelayer and pounder-up. On March 1, the Board replied that it was the intention of the Board that the extra amount awarded amount awarded should be divided into four equal parts and distributed as follows: one each for the two pullers-over and pounders, one for the operator and one for the sole-layer.

The decision was accepted by all concerned.