Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-07
mORE ABOUT THE WESTERN
UNION.
Operators Not OverWOrked =
Corporations that Look out
for Their Own Interests.
Now York Tribup..a.

New York Tribune 4.
Before Senators Blair and Call, Of
the Sub Committee on Education and
Labor, DR.. Norvin Green yesterday
continued his testimony. He began
by correcting q number Of mistakes
which, he said, had appeared in the
published reports Of his testimony.
When he stated that operators could
be hired at lower wages than are now
being paid, he referred especially to
female operators, of whom there we're
a large number in excess OF the actual
demand. In my testimony last
week." he continued, II said that the
placing Of the telegraph wires under
around would be a detriment to the
public service. This statement would,
perhaps, be a little clearer should |
give our experience with underground
or cable wires. From experiments
which have recently been made by our
company we have found that we can
get from % to 30 per cent mere work
out OF a wire above ground than from
one below the ground. With the
printing machine we can get q speed
Of $1,000 words per hour. The Wheat
stone instruments can be worked
more rapidly on the route between
New York and Chicago by the way Of
Albany than by the way Of Pittsburg,
although the latter route is 100 miles
shorter. The reason of this differ
ence is that in the one case the wires
are upon poles the entire distance,
while in the latter the wires pass
under the Hudson river. In regard
to the capitalization Of the Western
Union previous to 1866, | wish it to be
understood that all purchases of other
lines we're made with our stock. Since
that time $40, 900, 900 in cash and s23,-
100000 in stock have been paid
out in the acquisition Of new property.
MIR. Humstone desires me to say to
the committee that there we're only
three Wheatstone operators brought
over from Europe under contract at
$500 a year. Besides these, there
we're several operators known as
"~punchers" who, while learning to
work the Wheatstone instruments
were TO receive $40 q month. When
the Wheatstone instruments were put
into use on March l, some Of the
learners were advanced to SIS q month;
others to $50. In no case have the
salaries Of these men been reduced.
Senator Blair-How many cables
aud instruments does the company
own"
DR.. Green-We have 81 cables
across the Hudson river, IL across the
East river, and 6644i in the country at
large. We have about q, 800 instru-
ments in operation at the present time.
The telegraph service in London is
better than the service in New York.
The reason is that in London there is
a special wire to every branch Office in
the city. Here Eve Offices are often
served en- one wire. Consequently,
when one Office is using the wire all
the others are excluded. This occa
stems delay and binders the transac
ton Of business. We have had IN.
derground wires extending from the
main Office to the Cotton and Produce
Exchanges. One reason why we have
not put up additional wires is that we
intend to put in pneumatic tubes
which will allow Us TO distribute our
mes ages from general centers This
will greatly facilitate business by in-
surfing more rapid transmission.
Senator Blsir-It has been stated
TO the committee that telegraph oper
ators are overworked. What is your
opinion Of the mstter2
Dr. Green-"Well,I think the work
is no moro exhausting than that OF
many other employments. There are
q lev operators who work heavy wires
that may perhaps reason to complain
| do not think that the electricity or
physical labor attached to ~telegraphy
Is OF such a character as to injure the
operators My observation is that q
large number Of men and women take
up the business as q makeshift aud
abandon it when they marry or fnd an
opening elsewhere"
Senator Blair-"Don't you think
that the company could afford TO re-
duce its rates and increase the salaries
Of its operators2"
DR.. Green with q smile)-"Well,
you know, corporations are not run
entirely pro bono publico, for they
have to look out for their own inter
ests."
Senator Blair (sarcasticalIy)-"Yes,
We understand that point perfectly
WE'LL But wouldn't it be q wise plan
for the company, setting aside the sal
airy and rate question, to pension some
OF its worn out employes2"
DR.. G~reen--It is not the spirit or
genius Of our government to establish
life pensions. Benevolent associations
already exist among the operators,
which afford relief to the sick aud
destitute"
Senator Blair-"Is il to some extent
q matter Of fact that the capitalization
Of corporations in this country is
largely in excess Of the actual cash
invested, and that the public are taxed
to a considerable extent to pay profits
upon what is popularity known as
watered stoek?"
DR.. Green-"Well, l can only give
you my opinion on the subject. The
modern method Of building roads
through construction companies com
posed JzS5siSsiiy Of the same men who
own the roads has struck me as an
injurious method Of getting out stock
without costing anything.