The result was an understanding that the machines were to be retired from the factories of the American Hide and Leather Company, and the men were to receive the former wages. Accordingly, on June 11 the company's hands in Woburn and New York returned to work. In Beggs & Cobb's shop at Winchester the settlement was delayed for a few days, when it was understood that the firm should retain its machines, 4 union buffers and about 20 apprentices who had become proficient.

Nothing further was heard of the controversy.

PAINTERS AND DECORATORS - BOSTON.

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On April 14 a visit was received from an agent of the painters' union, who complained that an effort to adjust a dispute as to price had not been responded to by the master painters involved. Rather than engage in a strike, though confident of victory, the workmen in question had resolved to invoke the State Board of Arbitration and Conciliation. The agent thereupon submitted an application from the executive committee of Union No. 11, Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators of America, representing workmen of Boston and vicinity, engaged in the business of painting houses and decorating interiors. The grievance was stated as follows:

The wages for house painting should be increased from $2.50 to $2.75 for a day of eight hours. A letter requesting such an increase was sent on March 28 to the Master Painters' and Decorators' Association of Boston and vicinity, the receipt whereof was acknowledged on April 1, 1900, but no reply has as yet been received.

It was not deemed necessary to state the still higher wages that ought to be paid for decorating.

The Board immediately notified the employers' association of the alleged grievance, and requested to be informed whether it would join in referring the case to the arbitration of this Board, or, if conciliation were preferred, whether its committee would confer with the journeymen's

representatives in the presence of the State Board with a view to settling the dispute by agreement. On the 20th word was received that the employers had "nothing to arbitrate."

The union had already been informed of the master painters' attitude, and concluded not to waste the opportunity for making perfect arrangements to strike which the public holiday of April 19 afforded. A circular was prepared and sent out by the union, to which it is stated about one-third of the master painters responded by conceding the demand.

On Monday, the 23d, the strike was inaugurated, which it was resolved should be fought to a finish all the more eagerly in view of the fact that every peaceful measure had been exhausted. The strike had hardly commenced before other employers in one quarter and another began to make concessions resulting in agreements. News of the strike brought in several non-union painters from the outlying districts where work was slack, and many of them were given employment. Both sides claimed a victory. At last accounts, on May 4, the strike was represented as ended.

BREWERY ENGINEERS—BOSTON.

In the last week of April Steam Engineers' Union No. 16 notified the Master Brewers of Boston that on and after May 1 the following schedule of wages and hours was to go into effect:

1. That eight consecutive hours' work shall constitute a day's work. All time worked over eight hours to be paid for at the rate of 55 cents an hour.

2. That the minimum rate of wages shall be $3 a day of eight consecutive hours, and the chief engineers shall be paid $25 a week.

3. That engineers receiving more than $3 a day at the present time shall not receive any less.

4. That all engineers employed in or around a brewery must be members in good standing of Local Union 16 of the International Union of Steam Engineers.

The Brewers' Board of Trade took this schedule under consideration.

The representatives of the engineers had several conferences on April 30 and May 1, with the Master Brewers, with a view to preventing a strike, if possible, and on May 1 published the following:

After a long discussion, in which we endeavored to find an honorable way out of the difficulty, and feeling that a few days' delay might assist us, and to give the brewers' committee an opportunity to consult with the members of their association, we made the following proposition :

"Will you agree, on the part of your association, to grant the

demands of the engineers, temporarily, pending further conference, you to confer with your associates and we with ours, you to take your own time as to when a further conference may be had between this committee and yours?"

This proposition was also declined by the brewers' committee. We, failing to in any manner agree, unless we accepted a proposition declined last year by you, withdrew from the conference.

While our meeting with the committee was as friendly as could be desired on both sides, we regretted to learn that our fair proposition could not be accepted, and thereby avert the pending trouble. There appears to be nothing for the engineers to do but strike. We believe a strike at this time is destined to effect a severe blow, if not to completely demoralize the brewing industry. Having exhausted every honorable means in our power to settle this matter, we ask the co-operation of all union men in putting a check to any body of employers who arrogantly refuse to realize that trades unions are a factor in production, and who will not accord fair and honorable conditions to their workmen.

We have been assured that some of the brewers will accede to the demands of the engineers, notwithstanding the position taken by the brewers' committee. In view of this fact, we request that all engineers remain at work until the strike order of Engineers' Union 16 be transmitted to them by this committee or its representatives.

On May 2 the following notice was received:

To the Honorable the State Board of Arbitration.

The undersigned respectfully represent that, on the thirtieth day of April, A.D. 1900, a strike was threatened in this Commonwealth, involving all the breweries located in the city of Boston and those lately employed by said breweries; that, at the time of the threat of said strike, said breweries were employing not less than 25 persons in the same general line of business, to wit; the manufacturing of malt liquors at said various places of business; that the nature of the controversy, briefly stated, is as follows: a demand on behalf of the engineers, made through the medium of the International Union of Steam Engineers No. 16 and the Central Labor Union, for a working day of eight hours at $3 per day.

Wherefore, your Honorable Board is respectfully requested to