The semi-weekly miner., 1883-08-18
DAY DISPATCHES.
Investigation Of the Telegra-
piers Strike.
Mcdonald, Tilden and the
Presidency.
Adjustment OF Differences in
the Creek Nation.
MISCELLANEOUS, ETC., ETC.
A Recital Of the Telegraph Situa-
tiOn.

New YORK, Aug. 14.-The United
States Senatorial subcommittee on
labor and education reassembled to-
day. John T. McLelland, a member
of the Brotherhood Of telegraphers,
resumed his testimony. He said he
estimated the cost Of telegraph line
1900 miles long would be $725, 1865.
Telegraph operators were generally
young men and lived in boarding
houses. They usually come from the
better class of society. The morals
of operators as class had greatly
improved within the last ten years,
and this was one result Of the organi-
zation which had been effected. Most
of them were single, but some were
married men. Witness thought $50
a month was reasonable estimate
for food and lodging for single man.
Only One in a hundred ever saved any
money. The highest paid operators
did not receive enough to enable them
to lay by anything for their support
In old age.
In 1870 the Western Union compa-
ny required every man coming into
their employ to take oath that he
would never connect himself with
any trade or labor organization. This
was called the iron clad oath and was
administered to every person who
took parl in the strike of 1870. After
the existing telegraph Brotherhood
was made known recently, the railroad
superintendents issued a circular,
which was sent to every employee OF
the company ferbidding him to con-
meet himself with any such organiZa-
ton, under penalty of dismissal.
The day operators worked from 8 a.
m. to 8 p. M. and had but two or
three hours to devote to amusement.
The night operators had more time
at their disposal. Nosuch thing as I;
vacation was known in the telegraph
business.
Thomas O'Reilly, telegraph OPP
orator of twelve years experience, has
charge of the Wheatstone instru-
ments in the Western Union office.
He had been an operator in that sys-
tenn for ten years in Scotland. He
came here about a year ago. The
Western Union company gave them
500 month as retaining fee until
Wheatstone's instruments should ar
rive. Promises were repeatedly
made that the Wheatstone men
should receive as much as first class
Morse operators. On the 2Sth of last
February, it was announced that the
Wheatstone system would begin OF
erations, and the Wheatstone oper-
ators were told that their salaries
would be $50 a month. Operators on
the other side Of the water were bet.
ter paid. They had three weeks va
cation each year, their salary paid and
during sickness received half pay.
After being certain number OF
years in the service, and his record
being good, the operator on retiring
received a pension for life, sometimes
at full pay when he becomes super
annua,ed.
John B. Taltavall, an operator, en-
ployed by the Associated Press, con-
tlr1ned the testimony of a previous
in regard to the strike.
w. H. Orr, of Philadelphia, men,
ber of the Brotherhood Of telegraph
ers, said the salaries paid operators in
z Philadelphia ranged from $40 to $50
a month. One Of the objects OF the
was to establish tele-
graph company on the cooperative
system, 10y which operators should
own their own lines and thus be en-
abled to protect themselves against
their employers. The evidence of
the hostility Of the Western Union
company against Its employees, Was
found in the systematic policy of re-
duclng the salaries Of its operators
during the past ten years. Witness
also testified to the practice Of the
Western Union company in blacklist
ing the men found organizing un-
ions or associations of operators.
Eugene J. O'Connor, of Boston,
chairman OF the executive board OF |
he Brotherhood OF telegraphers;gave !
Statistics OF the growth IT the West
arn Union company since 1866 and
,he membership of the Brotherhood !
which had increased considerably |
since the strike.