The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-14
Statement of the Causes Which Led to the
Present Strike-Another Brother
hood Officials Testimony.
of Wire-Cutting on the
New York Circuits.
'LOngshoremen's Strike at Brooklyn Cana
dian Cigarmakers Emigrating-Strike
to Begin at Dayton To-Day.
LABOR INVESTIGATION.


Before the Senate Committee.
| NEW YORK, Aug. 13.-The subcommittee of
| the United States Senate committee on labor
and education began its sessions today in the
| Postofice building. Members present: Senators
| Blair, of New Hampshire, chairman; George, of
| MississippE Pugh, of Alabama; Call, of Florida,
and Aldrch, of Rhode Island. The special sub
ject OF the investigation is strikes and labor
| movements in general, the object being to Oh
! tain information which may be used in securing
| future legislation to prevent them. The first
/ witness to-day Master Workman John
Campbell, of Pittsburg. He testified that he
| had been telegraph operator over twenty
/ years, and had been connected with the Knights
of Labor aud Brotherhood of Telegraphers two
years. There between $4,000 and $4,000
telegraphers in the United States and
! Canada members of the Brotherhood, and
! the whole membership was about $4,000. The
cause of the strike was a refusal to grant the de-
mands on the part of the operators for increased
| compensation, decrease in hours. and extra COM
pensation for Sunday. Since 1870 the salaries of
| telegraph operators had been Systematically cut
| down, and the object of the strike was to bring
| the rate of compensation back to the former
standard Operators ara now paid fixed salary
per month, the average rate throughout the
| country being about $54 for commercial opera
/ tors, and $50 per month for railroad operators.
The average rate for railroad operators in Penn
sylvania by the actual census is $3.50 per
| month. The rate of wages for tirst-class COM
| mercial operators now ranged from $50 co SS5
| per month. Salaries in New York city were
higher than those in the smaller cities, with the
exception of New Orleans. Memphis and Nash
! vile, where the scale of wages was about equal
! to that in this city. The lowest
| rates for commercial operators from
$50 TO $40 per month for operators at small
| way-stations, Before the reduction in wages
| rates were from 50 to 10 per cent. higher than
| at present In 1870 "a first-elass operator could
make from $50 TO $12O per month. These rates
| extended haUlnnlnU
| the war, vixen the scale was about the same
l at present for railroad operators, and that for
! commercial men little higher.
The Western Union company employs one
quarter OF all the operators in the country, and
about two-thirds are railroad operators. The
| American Rapid company only employs about
| one-fifth as many operators as the Western
| Union. The protest of the Brotherhood
| was against all the companies and
all employers of telegraph operators The
rate OF wages was not considered sufficient to
| live upon, and was much below that of common
day-laborers in many instances. The companies
| were able to pay higher wages to their men
without increasing their rates for service to the
| public. This was evident from the large divi-
| dends paid by the Western Union; besides, their
| facilities for transmitting messages have been
| increased by the Invention of duplex and quad
| ruplex Instruments. There has been reduc-
ton in the tariff in consequence of these improve
ments, but, on the other hand, the wages of the
operators were reduced, The number of opera
tors had doubled since 1870, while the facilities
| of the companies had more than doubled. The
| Western Union in thar year handled 100000
| 900.
On the 10th of July demands were presented
to the Western Union. American Rapid, Balti-
more & Ohio (commercial) and numerous tele-
phone companies. The only answer yet re-
| ceived is from the American Rapid company,
which has partially acceded to the demands of
| the brotherhood. The answer of the Western
| Union company to the appeal of the operators
was that it was not known whether the COM
, lnittee had authority to speak for the employees
| OF the company. Campbell said 80 per cent. of
i the employees were members or tine Brotherhood.
The operators had frequently presented griev-
| ances to local managers for an increase OF
wages, but these had been disregarded. 1t was
generally believed that the Western Union COM
pany had a well-established system of black
| listing men who made applications for an
crease of wages, and took the first opportunity
| to discharge them upon some pretext or an
other Favoritsm was shown by all the local
managers, and skill was at discount, A sys-
TEN OF Intimidation was praeticed by the Off
Gals of the company since 1870. Several move
ments had been started TO organize the opera
| tors, but failed on account of this system.
John Mcclellan, an officer of the Brotherhood
| and an operator of fourteen years, said the di-
rect cause of the strike the lnsnlt offered By
| the Western Union COMPANY to the committee
| of the brotherhood in refusing to recognize or
| treat with them Until then it had not been
| pected that a strike would occur, but IL was
thought the company would be willing to listen
| to the demands of the men and come to some
| adjustment If possible. The grievances were
real Ones and il there had been a spirit of con-
cessiOn manifested by the company the operat-
| ors would have met them in this spirit 1t was
shown that General Eekert and other officers of
| the company had known of the plans of the
| BrOtherhood before the strike begun. The
pany knew that grievances existed, and that
| the demands we're to be presented, and had been
| preparing to resist those demands ever since
| March last. If the present strike was a failure
| it would only strengthen the existing organiza-
| tion instead of breaking Its power. When asked
| whether he could suggest any method by which
more equitable division could be made of the
| products of labor and capital between employ
ers and employed, Mcclellan said this would be
impossible. The inquiry will be continued to-