agrees to have the work finished by a certain time, and if he fails to
keep his part of the bargain he has to pay a heavy forfeit for each day
that he is behind time.

When the time for a contract is nearly up, it is often necessary for
the men to work overtime to save the master his forfeit.

The men contend that the masters ought to be willing to pay extra for
such service. To save them money they are asking the men to toil for
them after their full day's work is done, and when they are so tired
that it requires an extra effort to do the work.

The leaders of the strike think that overtime is unnecessary if the work
is properly handled from the beginning, and they are anxious to make the
rate so high that masters will not ask it of their men, unless under
very unusual circumstances.

Of late both sides have shown a disposition to settle the strike,
because many of the big contracts for work have had to be given out in
foreign countries, owing to the duration and strength of the strike; but
as neither side seems willing to give in, matters are at a standstill.

The Prince of Wales and Mr. Gladstone have both been asked to arbitrate
the strike, but both of these great men have declined to interfere in
the matter.

The engineers, however, realize that something must be done, so they are
trying to bring the matter to an end by calling out such a number of
other workmen that the trade of the country will be brought to a
standstill.