The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-08-15
THE SENATE COMMITTEE.

McCieIland Continues His Testimony :
A Whenfstone Operator Accuses the
Western Uaion of Treuehers.
NEW YORK, Aug. 14-The United States
Senate subcommittee on labor and education
resumed its session to-day.
j. F. McClelland of the Brother hood re-
sumed his testimony. He said that the estim
ated cost of telegraphic line 1900 miles
long would be $725,965. The estimate was
made upon the cost of the construction of the
Mutual Union line, which was not amalga-
mated with the Western Union. The morals
OF the operators as a class had greatly improy-
ed within the last ten years, and this was re-
suit of the organization which had been effect
ed Most of them were single but some were
married. The witness thought $50 month
was reasonable estimate for food and lodging
for month for single man.
Thos O'Reilly, Wheatstone telegraph
operator, was the next witness. He had
charge Of the Wheatstone instruments in the
Western Union office, and had been an oper-
ator in that system 10 years in Scotland. Came
here about year ago. The Western Union
Company gave him then $50 a month as re-
tanning fee until the Wheatstone instruments
until Oct, and the company kept putting the
men off, until they were on the point of seek
ing other occupations. O'Reilly characterized
the action of the Western Union as a base
trickery. Promises were repeatedly made that
the Wheatstone men should receive as much
as first-class Morse operators. On the 28th of
last February it was announced that the
Wheatstone system would begin, when the
Wheatstone operators were told that their
salaries would be $50 per month. This was
~.Ne4l xx<Aw Il Asafa
never the less it was decided to give it a
months trial. AT the end of the first month
10 600 messages had been sent to and from
Chicago over one were under the duplex sys-
tenn. Promises OF increase of salary were con-
stantly made, but never were fulfilled, and the
Wheatstone operators were thus induced to re-
main until the strike was ordered, when all OF
them went out with the Morse operators, as all
were members Of the Brotherhood. The
Wheatstone patent is owned by he Western
Union in this country, but belonged to the
British government originally. 1t is sys-
tenn used all over Great Britain and Ireland.
1t was not probable that the Wheatstone would
supersede the Morse system in this country,
from different character of work here. The
principal reason for the strike of these oper-
ators was the deceit and trickery of the COM
pany toward the English operators On the
other side they were better paid, and they had
three weeks vacation each year with salary,
and during sickness received half pay. After
being a certain number of years in service,
his record being good, he receives pension
for life, sometimes at full pay when he be-
comes superannuated. All wires in Great
Britain and Ireland belong to the government
and tariff was uniform, being a shilling for
70 words, and three pence for each additional
five words.
John B. Taltavall, an operator employed by
the New York Associated Prees, confirmed the
testimony of previous witnesses in regard to
the strike. He explained more in detail the
effect of the introduction of the multiplex
system, reducing thesexpenses of the company
employing them. Despite the enormous in
crease of facilities obtained by the use of tn ese
duplex and quadruplex instruments, the tariff
of the Western Union has not been changed
The Western Union controlled over three
fourths of all the commercial lines in the
country, and has, as it claims over 100 600
miles of wire. The salaries paid by the As
ISOLATED Press averaged $50 week to its oper
ators. Accidents on railroads from negligence
of operators, the witness attributed to over
work and poor pay. Every effort was being
made TO satisfy the press service and that of
large business interests, but the business of the
public was being entirely neglected
Mr.. Horr Of Philadelphia, member of the
Brotherhood of Telegraphers, said that the
salaries paid operators in Philadelphia ranged
from $50 to $50 month. One OF the objects
of the Brotherhood was to establish tele-
graph company on a cooperative system, by
which operators should own their own line
An evidence of the hostility of the Western
Union Company towards its employees was its
systematic policy of reducing the salaries of
its operators during the past ten years. Wit
ness also gave testimony in regard to the prac-
tice of the Western Union Company in black
listing men found to have been engaged in
organizing union or association of operators.
Eugene j. O'Connor of Boston, chairman of
the executive board of the Brotherhood of
Telegraphers, gave the statistics of the growth
of the Western Union Company since 1866
The company was now paying7 per cent
dividends on its watered stock, and its surplus
this year was $3,000000. Since the beginning
of the strike the membership of the Brother
hood had nearly doubled, and now numbered
about 10000
The hearing will be continued tomorrow.