FOREWORD

WHAT IT IS The "Bureau of Department Reports" has been established by THE BOSTON HERALD to provide the BUSINESS INTERESTS of Massachusetts with a "clearing house" for the prompt dissemination of Decisions, Reports, Opinions and Rulings of the various State Boards, Commissions and Departments, which to an astonishing extent "regulate" and "control" business in this Commonwealth.

WE PURPOSE to publish weekly, in convenient form for reading and reference, all such rulings as they are promulgated.

ITS NECESSITY-Hitherto it has been almost impossible for business men to procure this information, except at an unreasonable cost in time, labor or money. Few of the sources of this information have an appropriation for printing-except annually in a few instances and no provision whatever has been made for the general distribution or circulation. Hence, only those who are individually concerned in any certain ruling of these Departments, Boards or Commissions is likely to be aware of its issuance, even though it may be of vital importance to thousands of concerns of a like character.

THE VALUE TO YOU-We believe it is unnecessary to point out the advantages our Bureau Service offers you. It matters not what your business interests are, one or more of the Departments, Boards or Commissions whose activities we aim to follow will be deciding from week to week questions that vitally concern you. You should be informed promptly of these findings and rulings. Any judgment rendered may be applicable to your own case.

OUR ABILITY to obtain this information cannot be questioned. A trained force of experienced men has been provided for this purpose, and a satisfactory service of Reports, Decisions, Opinions and Rulings will be maintained for subscribers to our Bureau of Department Reports from this date.

CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION.

In the matter of the joint applications for arbitration of a controversy between W. & V. O. Kimball, shoe manufacturers of Haverhill, and employes in the treeing department. Dated February 9, 1915.

Having considered said applications and heard the parties by their duly authorized representatives, investigated the character of the work and the conditions under which it is performed, which is the subject-matter of the controversy, and considered reports of expert assistants nominated by the parties, the Board awards that he following prices be paid by W. & V. O. Kimball at Haverhill for work as there performed:

By agreement of the parties, the award as to treeing on the Miller power machine takes effect as of date October 1, 1914. By the Board, BERNARD F. SUPPLE, Secretary.

In the matter of the joint application for arbitration of a controversy between J. H. Winchell & Co., Inc., shoe manufacturer of Haverhill, and employes in the treeing department. Dated February 9, 1915.

Having considered said application and heard the parties by their duly authorized representatives, investigated the character of the work and the conditions under which it is performed, which is the subject-matter of the controversy, and considered reports of

expert assistants nominated by the parties, the Board awards that the following prices be paid by J. H. Winchell & Co., Inc., at Haverhill, for work as there performed on men's McKay and Goodyear welt shoes:

TREEING ON MILLER POWER MACHINE.

Per 12 Pairs

Gun metal and vici; ironed on machine (by hand where
necessary), filler applied and ragged off.....
Patent leather; cleaner applied and ragged off, oiled,
ironed on machine (by hand where necessary), washed
off with gasoline and polished.

By the Board,

$0.10

.20

BERNARD F. SUPPLE, Secretary.

In the matter of the joint application for arbitration of a controversy between Lewis A. Crossett, Inc., shoe manufacturer of Abington, and employes in the finishing department of Factory 1.

Having considered said application and heard the parties by their duly authorized representatives, investigated the character of the work and the conditions under which it is performed, which is the subject-matter of the controversy, and considered reports of expert assistants nominated by the parties, the Board awards that there be no change in the prices paid by Lewis A. Crossett, Inc., at Abington in Factory 1 for scouring top-pieces (slugs not previously ground), as the work is there performed. By the Board, BERNARD F. SUPPLE, Secretary.