On August 4 a conference was appointed, to take place at the rooms of the State Board at the State House on August 10, and the parties were so notified; but on the 7th a conference was had by the superintendent with a committee of the boys, at the office of the Board, and the several grievances were discussed at length. An adjournment was had to the 9th, in order to afford opportunity to consult with the other boys, and on the day last named the conference was resumed. The overtures previously made by the company had been rejected in the meanwhile, and at this meeting the boys made their final demands. The superintendent recurred to his lack of authority, but said that he would give an answer as soon as the vice-president should have been heard from. On the 14th complaints were received that the boys suspected bad faith on the part of the company, that new boys were being advertised for and hired, and that a renewal of the strike was imminent. The superintendent was communicated with, and a meeting appointed for the next day. Both parties appeared on the following day, and an agreement was made and filed with the Board, settling all matters in dispute, as follows: BOSTON, August 15, 1899. AGREEMENT. 1. That 2 cents be paid for the delivery of each telegram. 2. That 40 per cent. be paid on messenger service. 2a. That 2 cents be paid for the collection of each telegram. 3. Boys paid on weekly salary as follows: $4 per week for first six months, $4.50 per week for second six months, $5 per week thereafter; this to be computed at seven days a week, boys to be credited with a day on their regular Sunday off. 4. That they be paid weekly, according to law. 5. Uniforms to be pressed every two weeks without cost to the messengers. 6. All time after 10 P.M. to be paid for at rate of 10 cents an hour. This does not include those boys. whose regular day's work is not finished until after 10 P.M. This agreement to take effect beginning Monday, August 21, 1899, and to continue for one year. G. H. YETMAN, Superintendent, Boston District Messenger Company. P. L. HYNES, 94, A. E. ZACKULAR, JAMES MURPHY, Committee of Messengers. STEAMFITTERS AND HELPERS-BOSTON. On September 5 a strike occurred in Boston under the influence of the union of steamfitters' helpers, to enforce a demand for minimum wages of $2 for a day of eight hours. The employers had made a counter-proposal to pay new men at the rate of $1.50 a day for the first six months of service, $1.75 for the next eighteen months, and $2 a day thereafter, proposal which was not sufficient to avert the strike. a On the 8th a communication was received by the State Board from the president of the association of master steamfitters, stating that the journeymen steamfitters had violated the agreement entered into between the two associations of masters and journeymen in the presence of the State Board on October 24, 1895, and requesting the interposition of the Board. A letter was at once sent to the journeymen steamfitters' union, reciting the notice received, and asking for any suggestion of action on the part of the Board that might lead to an adjust ment of the difficulties. A committee of fitters thereupon called and said that they were idle, not because they had any grievance, but because of the strike of the helpers, which left the fitters without their usual assistants. On the same day appeared a committee of the helpers, who conferred at the rooms of the Board with the committee of fitters. On the 9th the fitters' committee called again, and reported a provisional agreement with all except three of the principal employers. The Board then visited Ingalls & Kendricken, being one of the firms that had not yet agreed, but insisted upon a modified or sliding scale described in the counter-proposal above referred to. The substance of the interview was related to the fitters' committee, who were advised to call again upon the outstanding firms and make another attempt to reach an agreement. On September 11 others of the steamfitters returned to work, and the prospect of a general settlement appeared brighter. On or about the middle of the month, after further conferences between the employers and workmen and with the co-operation of the Board, a definite understanding was arrived at with both classes of workmen, and the dispute subsided. HIGHLAND FOUNDRY-BOSTON. On September 1 the bench moulders employed by the Highland Foundry Company, in Boston, struck for an increase of 10 per cent. in wages, being a restoration of one-half of a reduction made two years before, and for weekly payments. The services of the Board were promptly tendered, but no response was received until the 21st, when the president and one of the directors of the company called and requested immediate action by the Board, assigning as a reason for their delay the prolonged illness of the superintendent. On the same day the Board got into communication with the workmen, and arranged for a conference with the officers of the company on the day following. At the appointed At the appointed time the two committees met at the rooms of the Board and discussed terms of settlement. The result was 66 that, if the a proposition from the company, moulders shall see fit to return to work forth with, the company will meet a committee of |