Show WORSE THAN USELESS Governor Douglas as Referee De Dc Decides Against the Pall ver Strikers Boston on May a statement 15 Is Mi d today Governor Dou las AS referee in the settlement of the Fall River textile strike of 1904 finds that thata a 3 partial restoration of wages is not warranted When hen the strike was set settled tied In January law Governor Douglas intervening ing he was as em cur empowered powered to fix a margin of profit at which o operatives would receive an in increase crease e of wages ages The governor r re reports ports that the conditions dur luring the thern months between January nail and April Altril were ere not such uch as to warrant arrant an Itt hi crease The strike which affected about S 2 4 o persons was began rn in July 1 14 to toa resit a cut ut of 1 12 per cent in wa wages efI The strike lasted nearly six n months at atthe atthe the end of which hith time the operatives returned to work ork with wilh the reduction in effect The strikers went back in con consequence consequence sequence of the amicable intervention of Governor Douglas and the agreement was that the governor should after investigation decide upon what margin the mill owners conk rould gr grant nt an In Increase crease rease of i 5 pet per cent ent up to April ADril 1 or of orthis this year Governo Dou Douglas las finds that it would require a mar margin ln of 71 and cents between the price urlce of cloth and aad Its equivalent In cotton lotton to pay the requested Increase se Q of It 5 per cent In wages earned dining which his investigation tion covered This margin would allow i iper per cent ent for mill dividends and per percent percent cent annual depreciation While the exact mArgin of profit which pr during the period of investigation Is not exactly known since it is IE a matter which the manu mans lone have knowledge it is understood that It was Nt under ie e cents The governor offers no direct bearing MArIng on the Fall River |