Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-08-15
The Senate Committee on Labor and
Edreafyon

The Senate Committee on Labor and
Education.
NEW York. August 14th. The sub. COM
mittee of the United States Senate Commit
tee on Labor and Education began its session
yesterday in the Postofice building. Mem
bers pressnt-Senator Blair, Of New Hamp-
shire, Chairman; George of Mississippi,
Pugh Of Alabama, Call of Florida, and
Aldrich Of Rhode Island. The special cub
jsct of investigation was strikes and labor
movements in general, the object being to OBJ.
tain information that may be used in future
legislation to prevent them.
STARVATION WAGES OF OPERATORS.
New York, August I4th.-The United
States Senatorial Sub Committee on Labor
and Education reassembled to-day, and John
McClelland, a member of the Telegrsphers'
Brotherhood, resumed his testimony. He said
the estimated cost of Telegraph line OF Is, 600
miles would be S725. 965. Telegraph opsr-
ators were generally young men, and lived IN
boarding-houses. They usually came from
the better class of society. The morale of
the operators had greatly improved within
the last ten yeaTs, and this was one result of
the organization which had been effected.
Most OF them were single, but some were
married men. Witness thought $50 month
was reasonable estimate for food and lodg-
| ing for month for single man. Only one
| 10 hundred evsr saved any money. The
highest paid operators did not receive
enough to enable them to lsy by anything fof
their support in old age. In 1870 the Western
Union Company required every man coming
into It's employ TO take an oath that he would
never connect himself with trade or labor
| org anizstions. This was called the ironclad
oath, and was administered to every person
who took part in the strike of 1870. After
the existence of the Telegraph Brotherhood
was made known recently, the Superintend.
ept issued circular, which was sent to every
employee of the company, forbidding him to
connect hir1salf with any organization under
penalty of dismissal. Day operators worked
from s to s az night, and had but two OF
three hours to devote TO amusements. Night
operators had more time at their disposal.
| No such thing as vacation was known 10
the telegraph business.
Thomas O'Reilly, q telegraph operator OF
twelve years experience, has charge OF the
| Wheassloae instruments in the Western
| Union office He had been an operator in
| that system for ten years in Scotland. He
came here about year ago, and the Western
Union Company gave him $40 month as q
retaining fee until she Wheatstone instru-
ments should arrive. Promises were re-
psasedly made that Wbeatstone men should
receive as much SIS fEst-class Morse opera
tors. On tie 2Ssa of lest February it YVES
announced that the Wheatstons system
would begin operation, and the Wheatstone
operators were told that their salaries would
bs $50 month. Operators on the other side
were better paid. They had three weells'
vacation each year, with salary, and during
sickness received half pay. After being q
certain number of years in the service, and
their record being good, the operators re-
ceived psnsion for life, sometimes at full
pay, when they bscome superannuated.