The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-09-04
PRESIDENT GREEN.
He Says Telegraph Operators are Paid ss
Well ~ any osher CInss.

NEW YORK The Senate subcommittee on
Only Senators Blair and Call were present
Senators George and Pugh having gone to New
England to take testimony on the same sub.
ject. DIR. Green took the stand and continued
his testimony. The witness, in opening, cor.
rected some evidence given in the morning
papers OF Saturday, and remarked, "1 did say
that the profits from 1866 were miade In a great
part by the purchase Of lines in stock. and net
as reported" In regard to the Wheatstone
operators, they were still In the pay Of the
company and their salaries had in no case been
reduced. The witness said, in explanation,
that messages could be transmitted more rapid
ly from New York to certain European points
tnan between certain cities on the European
comment The delay arose in crossing straits
or channels. The distance across the English
channel was from eighteen to twenty miles
and the messages across that cable were worke
oy the Morse instruments, while on larger dis.
tances messages were worked not by mani
pulatlon but by machinery. In regard to the
pay given to railroad operators, the witness
said That such operators were paid ten per cent.
on the business transacted besides the salary
they got from the railroad company. The tel
egraph service IN London was far better than
hopAFute
wires In the former to every important point.
Senator Blair asked whether the Western
Union, considering the extent of their bust.
ness and the profits arising therefrom, could
not pay higher wages to employees.
The witness replied shat their employees were
PAID as we'll as any other class considering the
hours OF labor. He said that for several years
he was connecten with railroad corporations,
but at the present time was president only Of a
railroad in Nova Scotia
Mr.. Blair asked witness how much, he real
lied on his investment.
Mr.. Green-Ten per cent.
Senator Blair--And the public pay for this2
Witness-Yes, but the stockholders have the
right to claim 1t all the same.
Senator Blair-Your dividend, YOU say is
only seven per cent?
Witness-Very true; stockholders have the
right TO utilize the balance by accommodating it
for q stock dividend.
Senator Blair Your surplus this year is
$Sl COO, 600, and interest is paid. How?
Witness-Seven per cent in cash to stock
holders and per cent is retained to be given
to them in one shape or another some day
either as stock in the increased value Of the
property or otherwise.
Mr.. Blair asked Green for an expression OF
his opinion as to the relations existing be-
tween capital and labor. Green said that
while he had great sympathy with laboring
people he would like to see every man en-
ployed according to his talents. "To my
minu5 SAID ne, strikes tnat nave oeen organ
lied to obtain higher wages have proved
failures. Not one iu twenty strikers that
ever knew of have been successful men. Those
most likely to get promoted or advanced or
to get an increase OF wages are those that
stood by their employers. Men generally who
are faithful TO their employers are more GER
tain Of advancement" Mr.. Green did not
recognize the right Of any organization to die
tate terms to employers. and whenever they
presumed upon such dictation it was sure 10
react and do them harm. Men entitled to an
increase of pay usually get it. The witness al
uded to moneys they had paid to the widows
and orphans of deceased employees for two or
three months, and mentioned one man who
could not recover from a sickness which lasted
nine or ten months, during which time he bad
been on half pay. Strikes, he continued, we're
purely matter of wages. There were hum
dreds he believed, who would not be satisfied
If paid $3.50 month. They would want $2C0
aud so on. A recess was taken till afternoon.