settlement had. been made and were under consideration. The Board advised a conference. The parties in interest. met on March 15 and effected a settlement, the terms of which were not made known.

WARREN W. WITHAM, A. C. BROWN, AND TEAM DRIVERS - GLOUCESTER.

As stated in its twentieth report, the Board brought a strike of Gloucester teamsters to an end by inducing an agreement of parties on April 12, 1905. The agreement was to run for one year. While the work of transporting goods was resumed in nearly all the places affected, the controversy persisted in some quarters. On March 19, 1906, it was represented to the Board that the time for renewing the agreement was opportune for an endeavor to terminate the disputes that remained between Warren W. Witham, A. C. Brown and their team drivers. The Board went to Gloucester on March 26, and brought the parties together. Agreements resulted which were reduced to writing and attested by the Board.

D. M. HILTON COMPANY - GLOUCESTER. On April 12 a letter was received, announcing a feeling of uncertainty as to D. M. Hilton Company's renewing the agreement, which would expire on that day. The Board went to Gloucester and mediated between the company and its teamsters, and procured a renewal of the agreement on April 13.

PAVING CUTTERS - CAPE ANN.

On March 21, paving cutters employed by the Rockport Granite Company at Rockport were notified of a change in the dimensions of granite blocks, involving, as they believed, more labor. On calling at the office of the company they were informed that the price would be $20 per thousand. They protested, saying that it was equivalent to a reduction in pay. They cited a bill of prices which was to expire May 1, wherein blocks of like dimensions were rated at $22.50 per thousand. On the 23d another conference was had, without an agreement. On the 24th, 150 went out on strike to resist what they deemed a cut-down. Fewer quarrymen being needed, the number working in the pits was reduced by the company's laying off several.

The agreement was made with the employers when the paving cutters and the quarry workers constituted one trades union; but they separated, and it was the belief that each division would live up to the terms of the agreement then in force until it expired by limitation on May 1, 1906. On communicating with the employer, he denied that he was in the wrong. He said the paving stones required under the change of dimensions did not involve more labor than those which they had been cutting; but if it were so, and he were in the wrong, the men had no regard for their promises, since they had agreed to settle all disputes through negotiation.

It was difficult to obtain the employer's consent to a conference with a view to a possible agreement, since he believed that the men in question did not understand the obligation of an agreement. After some delay he consented to meet the workmen in the presence of the Board.

The agreement of March 18, 1904, signed by the granite manufacturers of Cape Ann and by quarry workers, representing paving cutters, was in part as follows:

Article 12. That it is mutually agreed between the quarryworkers and employers that any disagreement of any kind that may arise shall be settled by and between the employers 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 he must be a disinterested party; the decision of a majority to be final.

Article 13. — This agreement shall take effect May 1, 1904, and stay in force until May 1, 1906.

Article 14. Further, that 1 cent per hour will be advanced to laborers, quarrymen and tool-sharpeners, and $1 per thousand on all paving blocks on May 1, 1905; provided, however, business will warrant such an advance, 30 days' notice being given.

Article 15. Should either party desire a change at the expiration of said period, three months' notice shall be given, previous to May 1, 1906.

The paving cutters, once members of the quarry workers' union, had formed the Paving Cutters' Union of the United States and Canada. Letters were sent to the secretaries of both organizations, announcing the Board's desire to bring about a mutual adjustment, suggesting that the men ought to abide by the existing contract, which would last only a month longer; and requesting to know what, if anything, had been done to bring the parties together.

Through the efforts of the Board a conference was brought about between the secretary of the National Association of the Granite Industries of the United States and the general secretary of the quarry workers; and the latter wrote to the

general secretary of the paving cutters, urging the men of that department to stand by their agreement, return to work and submit to arbitration.

On April 13 a conference of paving cutters and the Rockport Granite Company was had in the presence of the Board at Rockport. No agreement was reached. The Board recommended that the strikers return to work and submit their controversy to some form of arbitration; and the advice was taken under consideration.

The general secretary of the Paving Cutters of the United States and Canada wrote to the secretary of the local union, advising arbitration; but the strikers steadfastly refused to submit their contention. The general secretary of the paving cutters visited Rockport early in May; but as late as May 29 the parties were still at variance. The employers at that time had a large stock of paving blocks on hand, and by reason of the diminished orders had less need of paving cutters.

The strike involved the Rockport Granite Company, Pigeon Hill Granite Company, Edwin Canney, William R. Cheves, Wallace E. Nickerson and J. Leonard Johnson. The strikers then numbered about 275, of which about 150 had been employed by the Rockport Granite Company. They were men of different nationalities, and the larger number, having an imperfect knowledge of English, were obliged to transact business with one another through interpreters. Their meeting places were widely separated, and communication was difficult. A conference, however, was arranged for June 15 in the presence of the Board in Edmond Hall at Rockport. The deliberation lasted all day. At 6 o'clock the parties signed an agreement to take effect

on the following Monday, June 18, and remain in force. until March 1, 1908. All parties in interest were present, or represented.

By the terms of the agreement the rate for cutting granite pavement blocks was increased $1 per thousand, and the controversy was ended.

QUARRYMEN-CAPE ANN.

During the course of events set forth in the preceding statement there was a difference between the quarry owners and employees belonging to the Quarrymen's Union. Their agreement, made while they were one with the paving cutters, was to expire on May 1. The conditions desired were scheduled as follows:

1. Eight hours shall constitute a day's work.

2. Average quarrymen, derrickmen and air drillers shall receive 25 cents per hour.

3. Steam drillers shall receive from $2.50 to $2.75.

4. Green hands shall receive from 19 cents to 23 cents per hour.

5. Men shovelling coal shall receive 50 cents per hour.

6. Men handling paving shall receive 30 cents per hour.

7. Men working on the railroad shall receive from $1.75 to $2 per day, and green hands working on the railroad, after they have served a year and a half shall receive the same wages as the rest. 8. Men working on wharves shall receive an average rate of 25 cents per hour.

9. Over-time shall be paid as time and one-half, and Sundays and holidays shall be paid as double time. Holidays to be observed shall be Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas.

10. The men shall be paid weekly, and paid on the works.

11. Carpenters and boxers shall receive from 25 to 39 cents per hour.