New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-14

ming OF the war; when the scale was ABOUT inc sae 90
now for railroad operators and little higher ior com
mercial operators The reduction made since lsfonaS
been about forty per cent -,
The Chairnan-what proportion OF the operators OF n'
country does the Western Union Company omployf
Mr. Campbell-About One-quarter. Two'thirds OF all
the GENERATORS are employed In railroad busness ine
rate OF wages paid too low to 1--we docenuy upon
and much below what the companies were ao'o
to pay. This was evident Hom '
large dividends paid by the western UNION.
Reside this the facilities for transmitting messages had
been increased by the invention OF the duplex and quad
mpex Instruments Notwithstanding these improve
mens wages OF operators we're cut down, whe rates vi
service to the public not changed since 1871 the
number OF operators had doubled while the facilities
for transmitting messages had mucn nioro
than doubled In 1870 the Western Union
handled 100000 messages and last year the number
vi" Tb,' G1sr,nan-wbat is tho history of the present.
MT Campbell-A bill OF grievances was drawn MP at 2
held in Chicago In March That was ratiueu
by AN the local and presented by the Execu'
tive Committee 10 the telegraph companies on july 10
Ninety per cent OF tho Western Union operators wee
members OF the brotherhood Appeals for increase OF
wages had been frequently made and the men present
that OFF red Intimidation was practised by .he coni
pany In various ways BY catering i.s Ten i one
It's real value . - .... .~..,.t
Mr. CAM bell-Yes cir; Men seldom live long
| VIII
| about tho limit OF an average mans endurance.
The mex. witness examined Was John s McCIelland, OF
Uoboken a Master Workman OF the knignts OF laDpr,
and telegraph operator for fourteen years In answer
| TO Questions he SAID ]: =. ,, ,,--..,. ,...,,.a
the committee OF brotherhood. refusing to recognize
and treat with them 1t was THOUGHT strike might os
be willing 70 hsen to our demands and come 10 some
adjustment General Eckert and other officers OF tue
comnsny knew of our plans before the strike began
there had spirit OF concession shown Dy the COM
| many the operators would have met them
|
| OF our grievances and had been DEFEATING
we care more for shorter hours of labor aud the extra
pay sunday work than for the Increase IN salaries
SAID tnat az hours a day was sufficient lime tor any
operator to Work II ne expected To 90 Justice 70 hSo,
or mis- company We ask that eight hours oe considered
A uay's work There is much iayorusm shown by the
Western Union Company tnat Inferior men oiteu gut
| ter pay than hrst- class operators TO-, -. ..,.
| rhe Cnairman-Haat will be tne result II tho strike
Mr McClellandIt will only sodfy the operators nnd
s 80 the e"'u brotherhood tnat the western Union
S SSqp ny appearaDoes in Xe%Ycrk this being
the recognized battle-ground Formerly tue COMPANY d
transmits no more than 1900 messages. All business
is delayed from i've 10 twenyiolr hours on Important
senator Pagh-wnen the company paid higher wages
Mr.. McClelland-i believe that after the close OF
| the war profits were less tndn now; wages
,go IN month tbs s s for we're ire sne service
$50 Is paid PrOportonate roductons nave oeeh maio
4
senator George here took tho witness one side and
held whispered conversation w.tn hiD nuch 70 "a
| amusement II Otuer ms.uOersO Tue o0nmlttec nbeh
tne witness resumed seat lac was asked oy tue oaar
mau h. knew a1y tnng aoJnt tl1 s,ooA o. o ,a
Union Company lie reped 81 can iufnsh the conhll'eo
with violence tsle ,rapn sysen IN every way as
complete that Of the Western no. esa o. mo 100 %
| one-quarcr the cost. Iuere - from SoIVOO'OVV 10
S75 200 OUO water the hesion Union stock ohD
| klow mat from what sec IA tue newsp4per~'
senator GcorgoDan an operator sehd meSsasc in"io
| rapidly tiaa tea years Asof
| Mr. McCIelland-No. More messages can Oe semi over
the sane wros Tue inyenuOas nave tended To Dvhedl
capital but not labor One wire VIZ no" 90 VIC WI
tiat Two four di1 ton years ago In tue automAle
sys,em taKe. work 10 send message ad 70 pr
pare 1t delivery alter rec"yod over tae wire ~
tenos 70 reduce the demand Tor our ea A"or' Ou'
| requires anOtncr kIad Of sail Il work 49,
| Blar-DO you ttinE more oquiIdo'u
| system OF divGInx tAe prOhls Oh capiA aAo
| labor can b. devised 49,, - - -. d,
labor zoo ttlo. L. United stacs aud IeifIof'es
there 100000 manu- .aesdring eslaDllsnmehtA iu!
give empio nent 10 3OOO.OD prrsohs Lac cAPtai IN
vested in them - S25OUUOO.OJO and the value oi inc
material annually used ia tiein - abod s3OoooJC.oVo,
otai productis al Jut -O,OOJOOO w VI 'u's
1919 0OO OJU to ioOr anu tue rciDahuei
| goes capitalist Tat ~ Al undue prOpDrlioa-
| In auswer Inquiries. tie witness AAid tdas 40 ana
| a ana igunOur law cOud not Dc ehi"fccu-
lie sand that tue Direct taJie Company "Llch Is 60
a month for cgat hours work dAJ. shlo o.1eI
| Operators In the city, dOlug the same
nail hours pr day. The wi1ness discussed political
economy, Ia TO various qbe.uons, ald mi"tned
| That he did not expect much asbslihct
from Legislation, uUder tne present CONDITION 81 a1a =
As Legislators easiiy pdrcha~od ny eAp'taIsis
a question VI mo hartman ne n-tu thAt u'
believed Mr. Bcocncr dd rcuhfk tIat doll uSy
bread water IT. good enough Tor NorAihgmch
tie PROMISED, however trJ Abd learn Tor tue lhoI
| non oil lie Mr. BeecnSr dit
say 1he investigation VIII be 10 'nnSI nj 10 D. III
to-day.