would associate themselves together, with the object of studying industrial problems and creating a sound public sentiment much good could be done. These industrial questions must be settled right; they cannot be winked out of sight. The quicker we meet them in a proper spirit, the sooner they will be worked out.

There came to our notice in the past year 108 controversies of the kind contemplated in the statutes, arising out of 8 chief determining causes, occurring in 35 occupations, and involving 95 strikes. In some cases more grievances than one were alleged, in all 125, omitting such as were exhibited after disputes had begun.

From this we see that 44 per cent. of discontent related to wages, 39.2 per cent. related to hours of labor and required conditions, while 16.8 per cent. related to sentiment.

The Board's services were jointly invoked 37 times, and by one party or the other in 27 disputes. The Board interposed of its own motion on 44 occasions.

Eight decisions were rendered, and 39 conciliations were effected through the mediation of the Board. Twenty-six others were found to be in process of mutual settlement, in some instances through the services of public-spirited citizens acting as mediators. Sixteen contests were fought to a finish, when new hands were hired. Eighteen disputes were abandoned, including one case of arbitration, the employer having gone out of business pending proceedings.

Chapter 339 of the Acts of 1901 charged the Board with the duty set forth in the following as it now appears in the Revised Laws, chapter 19, section 23; but no case of the kind in view has as yet been brought to the Board.

No veteran who holds an office or employment in the public service of the commonwealth, or of any city or town therein, shall be removed or suspended, or shall, without his consent, be transferred from such office or employment, nor shall his office be abolished, except after a full hearing of which he shall have at least seventy-two hours' written notice, with a statement of the reasons for the contemplated removal, suspension, transfer or abolition. The hearing shall be before the state board of conciliation and arbitration, if the veteran is a state employee, or before the mayor of the city or selectmen of the town of which he is an employee, and the veteran shall have the right to be present and to be represented by counsel. Such removal, suspension or transfer, or such abolition of an office, shall be made only upon a written order stating fully and specifically the cause or causes therefor, and signed by said board, mayor or selectmen, after a hearing as aforesaid.

REPORTS OF CASES.

On learning that a strike of lasters had taken place in the factory of P. A. Field of Salem, the Board's mediation was offered. It appeared that about 12 men were dissatisfied with the prices for lasting, and quit work on December 29, 1900, in order to resist a reduction. When the employer was interviewed by a member of the Board, on January 1, 1901, he said he was experiencing no difficulty in the conduct of his business, having secured other lasters, as many as had gone out, and in fact all that were needed. The new hands were doing their work in a manner that was satisfactory to him. He had no controversy whatever with his present employees, and if any past employees who had left his factory of their own volition fancied they had a controversy with him, it was a kind of delusion which he did not participate in.

MORRILL LEATHER COMPANY — SALEM.

A strike of buffers occurred in the last week of December, 1900, in the factory of the Morrill Leather Company of Salem. Notice of the same was received on January 1, 1901, whereupon the services of the Board were offered; but it was learned that the places of the strikers had been filled with new men and nothing further was heard of the case.