New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-15
THE SENATE COMMITTEES INQUIRY.

AN ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF BUILDING TILE
GRAPH IINE-How OPERATORS LIVE.
The United States Senate Sub Committee on
Labor and Education resumed its investigation vi 'o
teegraphers strike yesterday morning senators b&r'
George Pugh Call a1d Aldrch were present. John
+. McCleland, whose examination was resuiheu es"-
mated the cost OF building telegraph line LOU mics
in length composed OF eight wires at $72o9oo. Inc es
innate he said, based on the cost OF Tue mu'u"i
Union line. When asked by Senator Blair 10 give tho
committee idea OF the life OF telegraph operator
the witness said:
.Tbe great majority Of operators are young They
live I'm comfortable boarding houses ana are usually
from the better classes OF the community Generahy
speskIng they unmarried. Those w6o nave Iannes
are unable TO devote much time to their homes as tney
ere obliged work extra hours In order TO nve ouge
men live on $50 month, and great many i've on less
than that amount ABOUT one hundred saves moley
In 1870 the Western Union Company required every
man who entered its employ to take an oatn tnae no
would never join any trade labor organization This
was the .irou clad oath which administered to
every one who participated in the strike OF TO"
Thomas O'Reiy, telegraph operator OF twelve years
erperlcnce the witness I've been an opera
tor Oh the wheasone system said the Witness for ten
years. Edinburgh, Scotland. In company VITA seven
other English operators came to this city year ana
half ago TO develop the wheatstone system Tor the
Western Union Company. year ago there were iour
wheatstono operators the Western Union Office; but
superintendent Hdmsone said that Instruments were
on their way hero from Europe, and he offered the
operators $40 a of retainer The instru-
.nents DID not arrive until October and the company
kept putting on the men, until they were at
tho point OF seeking other employment On
February % last it said that the Wheatsone sys
tern would begiu operation Manager Deaey told us
that our salaries then would be $50 month This was
asheartening but we thought we'd make the trial AT
the end the first month 5000 messages had been sent
to and Chicago wire by the duplex system
Promises Increased salaries were made ana as olteh
broken Finally when the Brotherhood called we olned
the Morse operators the strike Consider the prlnc'
nal for of these operators 10 be the de-
ceit and treachory of the company toward u.s. FROM
made by Mr.. Humstone before we lett
England supposed that the wages to be pad US
here would be at least 500 amonth promise was
made OF an increase 10 Sl00withn short time Ope-
ratorsn England three weeks vacation each year
with salary and during sickness receive half After
number OF years service In the company the
record good the operator receives pension Tor me-
sometimes full pay. when he becomes superannuated
All the wires Great Britain and Ireland are owned py
the Government, and the tariff Is uniform, being
xbpe for twenty words and pence for each additional
fye words"
John b. Taltava of Brooklyn an operator In the EN-
poy Of the Associated Press, explained In detail the
effect of the introduction OF the multpex system OIL
teegraphy reducing the expenses OF the company he
tbough legislation ought TO be had 10 the extent OF re-
quirng railroad companies TO make Ieonet III she
hours operators IN he
nj the oplpou tnat the Western Union Company was
nov doing not than third OF the business II dld
before the strike -, - A.
Henry w. Orr, OF Philadelphia. member OF the
Brotherhood. and operator before the stke IN tne
western Union Office In that city at SIS month"; stated
that the hg and lowest prices paid TO operators IN
Philadelphia $50 and $50 respectively. In 1879 ne
received S95 month 1883 only So and he haa 70
work harder than formerly When ne went 10 PblI
sdelpbia the manager told MIN worth than
SIS Der month but as that the regular prlce be
could be paid more. ,,,.
1.-The reason way the men combined, /" said the wit;
ness. they saw they were being Worsteu
by the company am OF the Executive Comlhltle 60
of tho strikers My idea was that the operators snd
dsposit an amount of money every year whcn snOulu
1naily enable the Brotherhood 10 control teegraphy
themselves. That idea OF the Brotherhood ana
the joined it, nave always hoped 10 see ths
scheme perfected"
ut,ye Board OF the Brotherhood was called de read
1gures showing the business OF the western
Union Company since 1886 aud the profits OF the com
pany during that lie furnished an account OF tue
life OF telegraph operator in Boston, gave his reason
Tor Joining the Brotherhood and provided the cOnmttes
with dates regarding the strike aud the brotherhood al
Photographers. .o.. 90
The committee adjourned at o'clock to meet again To-
day 10 "A.