287] COLLECTIVE BARGAINING 155 



was referred back to the conference committee. The books 

 of the company were open for inspection to an examining 

 committee, composed of the three concihators and two union 

 officials agreeable to the employers. It was understood 

 that the mills were to operate, pending negotiations, at the 

 old rate of wages; and that any proposed changes in the 

 scale were to be considered in conference between January 

 I and March 15, at which time either side was at liberty to 

 terminate the scale if it so desired.^^ 



This scheme was tried in 1907, and the result proved dis- 

 appointing to the manufacturers. A revised conciliation 

 agreement was formulated the following March, Itsessen- 

 tialdififerences from the former plan were these: (i) One 

 conference only was held, and disputed points, instead of 

 being decided by a board of outsiders, were referred to a 

 subcommittee, composed of three representatives of each 

 side. In the event the subcommittee was unable to agree, 

 it might call in a disinterested person to act as conciliator. 

 It was held that the sub-committee could be no more biased 

 than the outsider whomi it would select, and would be better 

 able to understand the matters submitted to it and thus dis- 

 pose of them with greater dispatch. (2) Either side might 

 request another conference before calling in a conciliator, 

 provided it had a modified proposition to submit with rea- 

 sonable hope of settlement. (3) The time set for a decision 

 was August I — a ten days' shorter period — made possible 

 by the provision for holding only one conference. (4) The 

 failure to reach a settlement by August i did not end the 

 negotiations, unless the conference committee so deter- 

 mined. This plan was not put to a real test, and in 1909 it 

 was abandoned.^" 



Since that time, the agreement has not provided for a 

 conciliation board. A conference is held by July i. In 

 case of disagreement, old conditions continue for one month 

 without strike or lockout while negotiations are being car- 

 's Proceedings, 1907, pp. 7903-7905. 

 80 Proceedings, 1909, pp. 8517-8529, 8540. 



