Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-07-17
THE rELEGRAPHERs' srRiKE.
The Operators Make Their Demand.
New YoRK, July l6.


All the operators in the Western Union
Office are at their instruments today as usual.
1t is stated that committee OF teiegraphers
brotherhood are now in consultation With the
officials of the Western Union company, Dut
the nature of the conference is not at present
known in detail. The directors of the West
ern Union are reported as saying this MORN
ing: I'VE shall prevent locking out If possl-
ble We are anxious to do everything which
will benefit our employees and the country
generally" Operators will cease working
Wednesday evening unless their demands
are complied with.
committee from the telegraphers' organ
ization, composed Of the seven members from
different cities, called on Gen. Eckert about
one o'clock today and presented request for
a general increase of Is per cent in the SAL
aries of the operators and slight reduction
in the hours OF work. No time is stipulated
for an answer and no threats were made.
The Commercial says the committee OF the
telegrapters' brotherhood. numbered seven,
including members from New Orleans, Louis
vile, St Louis, PIttsburg and Chicago IL
is said no representative from New York was
to be found in the committee. After being
cordially received by Gen. Eckert the chair
man stated the object of their mission and
presented brief written address to the Otfi
GERS of the company signed by members of
the committee. In it they ask the company
to grant to the operators throughout the
country general increase of 10 per cent
for services. They also ask for a reduction
in the hours of work. The petition closes
with the request that reply be given to the
request at the earliest possible moment Gen.
Eckert then requested the committee to fur
nish him with full list of the operators
they represent, and in whose behalf they ap-
pear This the committee agreed to do and
shortly afterwards withdrew.
No remarks were interehanged between
the officials of the Western Union Company,
and the committee beyond those incident to
the presentation of the petition referred to.
1t is understood that some time will be re-
quired by Gen. Eckert 1t is further stated
that there is not the slightest likelihood OF
the demand for 10 per cent. being complied
with. Whether either side will be prepar ed
to compromise is not yet determined. In the
meanwhile the entire force of operators in
this city continue at work and reports from
all portions of the country indicate similar
conditions of affairs in other cities. Gen.
Eckert and various officers of the company
held conference Immediately after the visit
of the committee and representatives of the
press were unable to secure an audience with
any of the numerous officials of the company
who were understood to be discussing the
course of action regarding the demand of the
operators. The same demand made on the
Western Union company was presented to
the Rapid Telegraph company, and to the
Mutual Union company, also to the American
District Telegraph company, and several
private corporations employing telegraph.
ers.
The demand made by the telegraphers upon
the Western Union Telegraph Co., today
asks for the linemen that eight hours consti.
tute the regular daYs work. and that cOmpen-
sation at the rate of two days pay be allowed
for all Sunday work; that the lowest salary
paid a regular lineman be $50 per month, and
for helpers $50. and that the duties of the
linemen be confined solely to their legiti-
mate work. In regard to the Wheatsone in
terests. it is asked that salaries of frst-class
Wheatstone operators be increased to So
u month and second-class operators to S65 a
month and that they receive in addition the
Is per cent. increase asked for the Morse OPP
orators, and that the working hours of the
Wheatstone operators be the same as Morse
operators.
CHICAGO, July I6
The telephone climbers, repairers and in
strument men made demand for an increase
of 25 per cent in their pay, today, and stated
they would await the decision ofthe company
4S hours.
1t is reported late tonight that the demands
upon the Telephone company for increased
pay, etc., have been refused and that all the
repairers and linemen will srike in the
morning.
BALTIMORE, July l6.
A committee of the telegraphers' brother
hood, TODAY, presented to Superintendent
Stewart of the Baltimore & Ohio Telegraph
Co., paper or address similar to that pre-
sented to the Western Union Co. in New
York, to day, asking for an increase of pay
and a reduction in the hours of work, etc.
The address was afterwards handed to Gen
eral Manager Frick, and the committee were
informed that the matter would be given de-
liberate and respectful consideration and an
answer returned.
DENVER, Col, July l6
1t is stated that the telegraphers of this
city are not in sympathy with the movement
of the craft.