On

had not as yet been set up. After some further delay, the men's agent and the employer met and came to an agreement. Finally, on the 14th a settlement was reached. the 16th the major portion of the strikers had returned to work, and work in the hand-turn department was going along as smoothly as before the strike. Under the terms of the agreement, prices were increased in some items, and the foreman in question was retained in his former position.

W. L. DOUGLAS SHOE COMPANY-BROCKTON.

An invitation was received by the Board on the 21st of December to meet representative lasters at their headquarters in Brockton, for the purpose of passing upon new leathers which the W. L. Douglas Shoe Company had recently introduced into the manufacture of their product at Brockton. In response to the invitation, a member of the Board went promptly to the lasters' headquarters in Brockton, and was informed that a controversy had arisen on the subject of classification, a matter which would materially affect the price of labor. Under an agreement existing between the company and its employees, all disputes not settled by direct negotiation are to be referred to the judgment of the State Board. The lasters wanted to be informed of the proper mode of procedure in this case. They were advised that this matter clearly called for the judgment of men expert in that particular calling; and they were informed of that part of the arbitration law relating to expert assistants.

On January 1, 1901, an application was received from the W. L. Douglas Shoe Company of Brockton and the lasters in its employ, and a hearing was given on the 8th. Each party nominated an expert, and they were appointed assistants to the Board for the consideration of this case, sworn and instructed in the discharge of their duties, and sent to investigate conditions and prices prevailing at com

peting factories, according to a list of competitors agreed upon by both parties.

The investigation by expert assistants having been completed, the Board had reached the point of rendering a decision, when word was received, as the Board was ready to submit this annual report to the Legislature, that an agreement had been reached on classification of stock and price for, lasting which was satisfactory to all concerned. The application was thereupon placed on file.

PRINTERS - BOSTON.

On December 24, 1900, the Boston Typothetæ, an association of master printers, and the Boston Typographical Union, No. 13, an organization of their employees, met by committees to consider the following demand of the wage

earners:

1. The abolition of all piece work.

2. All compositors, stone men, make-ups, etc., employed in book and job offices shall receive not less than $18 for a week of fifty-four hours.

3. When paid by the hour, the price shall be 40 cents per hour for less than three days' work.

4. All Sunday and holiday work shall be paid for at the rate of double time for day and 80 cents per hour for night work.

5. All work done outside of regular hours scheduled by the office shall be paid for at overtime rates, viz., time and one-half. 6. All work after 12 P.M. until 7 a.m., double time.

7. Compositors working overtime shall be granted half an hour for supper, such half hour to be paid for as overtime.

On the 27th of December the State Board offered its services as mediator, in case pending negotiations should fail. On the 29th the union received the reply of the Typothetæ, as follows, being a vote passed on the 27th:

First, as to the Abolition of Piece Work. - As it is understood that no composition is done by the piece in book and job offices in Boston by men who are members of the union, it is decided that this matter requires no consideration at the present time.

Second, as to an Increase in the Scale of Wages. - - While in full sympathy with our employees in their desire to secure the best possible income, we consider the large increase proposed as impracticable. It should be remembered that during the years of depression through which we have recently passed the printers' trade was one of the few in which the employers were not forced to make a reduction in wages; and now, when a considerable increase of wages is being made in so many trades, this increase is practically but a return to those formerly received. Again, it is but a few months since the employing printers of Boston voluntarily reduced the number of working hours, thus increasing the cost of production fully 10 per cent. This increase it has not been possible as yet to transfer wholly to our customers, and any further increase must be borne, for a time at least, by the employers. Under the circumstances, desiring to meet our employees as liberally as possible, we will agree to a minimum scale of $16 per week for journeymen.

In regard to section 3, it was voted that 33 cents per hour should be paid for short time work; that is, for time less than three days.

Sections 4, 5, 6 and 7 were accepted as presented.

The executive committee were instructed to transmit this official action of the Typothetæ to the Typographical Union as soon as possible.

The union replied on January 13, 1901, saying that the compromise offered by the employers' association was rejected. A larger body of employers was convened on the 15th, and passed the following vote, which was transmitted on the next day by the secretary of the Typothetæ :

The master printers of Boston and vicinity, convened at the call of the Executive committee of the Boston Typothetæ for the purpose of considering the scale of prices proposed by Typographical Union, No. 13, learn with regret the decision of said union that the only terms it will accept are a minimum of $18 per week and the abolition of all piece work; and believing, after the most careful consideration of the subject, that the employing printers cannot accede to these demands and remain solvent, and that the proposition of the Boston Typothetæ of a minimum rate of $16 is