The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-08-16
Press kilograms.
INVESTIGATING LABOR.
The Why's and WhereiOres Of the
TELEGRAPH Strike.

NEW ORR, August 13.-The sub
committee of the United States senate
committee on labor and education,
began its sessions to-day in the post.
offic. building. Present, Senators
Blair, of New Hampshire, chairman;
George, of Mississippi, Pugh, of Ala
bama, Call, of Florada, and Aldrich,
of Rhode Island. The special subject
of Investigation is strikes and the la
Dor movement in general, the object
being to obtain information which
may be used in securing future legis-
latiOn to prevent them. The first
witness to-day Master Workman John
Campbell, of Pittsburg. He testified
he had been telegraph operator over
twenty years, and had been connected
with the Knights of Labor and Broth.
erhood of Telegraphers two years.
There are between 1900 and 1900
telegrapherS in the United States and
Canada, members of the
brotherhood, and the whole member
ship was about $1,000. The cause of
the strike was refusal TO grant de-
mand on the part of the operators for
increased compensation, decrease in
hours and extra compensation for
Sunday. Since 1870 salaries OF tele-
graph operators have been systematic
cally cut down, and the object of the
strike was to bring the rate of COM
pensation back to the former stand
ard. Operators are now paid fixed
salary per month, the average rate
throughout the country being about
$54 for commercial operators, and $39
for railroad operators. The average
rate for railroad operators in Pennsyl-
vania, by actual census, is 1885 per
month; rate of wages for first class
commercial operators now range from
$50 to $85 per month. Salaries
in New York city were high
er than those in smaller
cities, with the exception of New Or
leans, Memphis and Nashville, where
the scale of wages was about equal to
that in this city. The rates for the
commercial operators were from $35
to $40 per month for operators at small
way stations. Before the reduction
in wages the rates were from thirty
five to forty per cent higher than at
present. In 1870, first class operators
could make from RQto &1a0 per month.
These rates extended back to the time
of the beginning of the war, when
the scale was about the same as at
present for railroad operators, and
that for commercial, men a little
higher. The Western Union company
employs a quarter of all the operators
in the country. and about two
thirds OF them are railroad
company employs only about one-flfth
as many operators as the Western
Union. The protest of the brother
hood was against all companies and
all employers of telegraph oper-
ators. The rate of wages was not
considered sufficient to live upon, and
was much below that Of CANNON la
borers in many instances. 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 dividends paid
by the Western 4, Union telegraph
company. Besides, the facilities for
transmitting messages had been in
creased by the invention of duplex
and quadruplex instruments, There
had been no reduction in tariff in
consequence of these improve
ments, but on the h contrary
wages OF operators are reduced.
The number of operators had
doubled since 1870, while the facili-
ties OF the companies have more than
doubled. The Western Union tele-
graph company, in that year handled
100000 messages, and last year the
number was 35,0O0O00. Campbell re-
cited the history of the strike since it
began. There was a convention of
the brotherhood, he said, held in Chi
cago last March, at which a bill of
grievances was drawn up. This was
presented to different local assemblies
of the brotherhood throughout the
United States and Canada, who upan-
imously ratified the action of the con-
vention. Returns to the executive
board We're made about two months
ago, and the committee was instructed
to present the demands of the opera
tors to the different companies. and
they were also empowered to arbitrate
upon all propositions that might be
made by the companies. -
On the 18th of July demands were
presented TO. J the Western Union,
American Rapid and baltimore and
Ohio. and numerous other telegraph
companies, and the only answer yet
received is from the American Rapid
company, which has partly acceded to
the demands of the brotherhood. The
answer of the Western Union COM
pany to the appeal of the operators
was that it was not known whether
the committee had authority to speak
for the employees of the company.
Campbell said ninety per cent Of the
employees were members of the
brotherhood. Operators had fire.
quently presented grievances to local
managers for increase OF wages, but
these had been disregarded. 1t is gen.
orally believed the Western Union
company has a well established sys-,
tenn of blacklisting men who made
appeals for increase of wages, and
took the first opportunity to
discharge them upon some pre-
text or another. Favoritism
and skill was at discount, and q sys-
tenn of intimidation was practiced by
officials lof the company Since 1870
several movements have been starred
to organize the operators, but all failed
on account of this SYSTEM. -, +. =
John Mcclellan, an officer of the
brotherhood and an operator for four
teen years, said the direct cause of the
strike was an insult offered by the
Western Union telegraph company to
the committee of the brotherhood in
refusing to recognize or treat with
Them Until then it had not been ex-
pected q strike Woul9 occur, but it was
thought She company would be willing
to listen to the demands of the men and 4
to'cpmei to some adjustment if p0ssi-
BILE: The grievances were real ones,
and if there had been a spirit
OF concession manifested by
the company the operators would
have met them in the same spirit.
1t was shown Gen. Eckert and other
officers Of the company had known of
the plans of the brotherhood before
the strike began. The company
knewlgrievances existed and that de
mands were to be presented, and had
been preparing to resist those de-
mands ever since March last. If the
present strike was a failure it would
only strengthen the existing organi-
cation instead of breaking its power.
When asked if he could suggest a
method by which a more eqitable di-
vision could be made of the products
of labor and capital Between en-
ployers and employed, Mcclellan
said this would be impossible. The
inquiry will be continued tomorrow