The Portland daily press., 1883-08-31
THE SENATE ENQUIRY.
Testimony of the President of the Western
Union-says Average Wages Paid Tele-
graph Operators is $40 Per Month.

NEW YORK, Aug 30.-The Senate sub-com-
session to-day.
Robert Blissert, tailor insisted if blow was
not struck at monopoly before the expiration
of ten years, one of the bloodiest revolutions
that ever occurred would happen.
DR.. Norvin Green testified that he had been
president of the Western Union Telegraph
Company about five years. He held when the
company was compelled to put their wires
underground it would result in detriment to
the public service. The Western Union had
absorbed large number of smaller companies.
In respect to telegraph service the witness said
there was no su,h telegraph service in the
world as in the United States After the ex-
pertinent of laying wires underground between
Washington and Baltimore the plan was ban
doned and the pole system adopted.
At the time the witness went into the busi-
ness the lines had been extended into the
South and West, but not one of these lines had
paid dividend. The New York, Albany and
Buffalo line was paying per cent. and one or
two other northern lines yielding a small per-
centsge. Telegraph property in 1856 began to
yield dividends.
The expense incurred in running their offices
and caring for lines, and the difficulties under
which the telegraph companies labored, the
public seemed slow in appreciating. In every
instance where there was q consolidation of
companies it has been positive gain to the
public. The witness asserted they could do
business much cheaper if they adopted the
English post-office system and took their own
time to do 1t, and he was satisfied there was no
telegraph service in the world as perfect as
that of the Western Union Co.
The capital stock Of the Western Union was
about So, 100000. In the course OF his testi-
mony DIR. Green spoke Of the franchises they
owned in railroads along which they had the
right of way, and explained to the committee
that the railroads had the use Of certain wires
for the conduct of their transportation busi-
ness as pay for such franchise. The railroads
had their own. operators and used the COM
pany's wires, or had separate wire between
various points for the starting and manage
ment Of irains. Witness said that their line
paid per cent on a capitalization $50, ,000, 600.
| Their contracts with railroads from 20 to
| 30 years. The service they do us, said DIR.
| Green. was of great utility to us, but of small
pecuniars benefit to the railroads. The Bell
| patent was once offered the Western Union Co.
for 100000 Now it is reported to be worth
| $780, 900. The Western Union Company
was constantly buying patents They declined
TO buy the Leggo system.
At the afternoon session DIR. Green resumed
his testimony:
Four-ffths of the Western Union operators
had been Office boys and messenger boys. The
average salary paid to their employees is $40 a
MONTH A large number of their female oper-
ators were educated at Cooper Institute at the
expense of the company, about 60 operators a
year being turned out. The average wages of
Western Union operators is from $68 to $75,
and that of all operators in the country is
S6490. Witness denied the assertion of the
New York Times that none Of their operators
received more than $50 month, and added
that the operator receiving the Times specials
gets 800 month for five hours work, and $65
in the Produce Exchange for FIVE hours
work, making $155 month. Operators here
get twice as much pay as in England, bnt they
did more work. He thought the strike should
have been won by the company at any cost
| The Gould system of railroads in its efforts to
obtain frst-class operators forced up wages be.
| yond the market value OF the services rem.
| dered. The general rates on all their lines
| nave been gradually reduced The tendency
| OF wages is upward, and they were never
| higher than now.
| Next week Senators Pugh and George will
take testimony in New Englaud, and Senators
J Blair and Call will remain here.