The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-09-07
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
BY TELEGRAPH AND MAIL.

BY TELEGRAPH AND MAIL.
Strike and Labor Investigation.
session in New York Cityof tho United States
Senate subcommittee on Labor and Edu-
catOnl
Before the COMMITTEES on the 30th ult, DIR.
Norvin Green, President Of the Western
Union Telegraph Company, testified that
the value of Western Union stock is made up
of the francfs=7s, exclusive patent rights,
and eight hundred favorable contracts with
railroad companies. The present capitali-
cation Is 500 q mile, which is only One-third
Of what 1t was 50 that the stock instead
OF being watered, has been through a pro-
cess Of distillation. The lines have been
extended siX-fold since 1866. The number
Of offices has been increased, so that there are
now about 1860. The number oS messages
has been increased from 2l.000000 in 1879, to
B9,000G00 i'm 1882 The receipts of the company
have reached nearly Sl9.0J0000 annually. The
expenses are about $9,900C00. The value of
the plant has increased nearly ninety per
cent. on its $S0,OO06OO of capital. He had OBJ
served that since tho British Government had
taken bold of the business OF felegraphing,
re pEosress Of inHeRn Itio, had been
chief advances in mutiplex teleg-
raphy had been made in this country. DR.
Green said that four-tenths of the expenses
of the company consist of salaries. He denied
che statement of the Photographers Brother
hood that the wages paid to the operators
average S5i month. He presented table
Of salaries 70 show that the average wages are
$40 month. The average Of wages to 1894
operators in the principal offices in England,
he said is only S2I20
A. 4. Peck then addressed the committee in
favor OF Peoples bank, to enable any voter
10 OBTAIN loans of money free of interest. He
SAID that as the Government gave the banks
chance to get money free of interest," the
same right should be given the people.
Announcement was made that the commit
tee would divide its labors, Senators Pugh and
George to go to New England to collect testi-
mony, and Senators Blair and Call to remain
in New York City
The testimony of DIR. Green concerning the
telegraph business was continued before Sem
ators Blair and George in New York, on the
3lst ut. In reply to a question as to his state
mont that system in the hands of the Gov
eminent would be more expensive and less
efficient than under corporation Green said
TINS would be due to the partisan system of
pubic appointments as made IN this country.
The postal telegraph might be adopted in this
countryh system of nOn-partisan appoint
mentsi such as prevail in England and France,
could be used here. He being asked as to the
sanctity Of messages which passed through
the western Union, Green declared that
all messages were sacred. The company
could not afford to have any person in
its employ whose integrity could be
questioned. All messages were destroyed at
the end Of each six months. Messages re-
ceiyed in New York daily ranged from $4,000
to $1,000. When the strike occurred it would
have been fatal to the interests of the com
pany to have yielded, as it would have been
an admission that the operators had power to
dictate terms. The company would never
consent to any such conclusion. The relation
between the company and its employees was
regulated strictly by the law OF supply and
demand. The salaries paid were equitable and
Just. The company would not admit the
right OF few mem to dictate to the
many on what conditions they should
work IN answer to question as to-
whether 1t was not the policy of the COM.
pany to absorb all the other lines of the
country, witness said they meant to cover the
entire Countrywide telegraph business of
the country. The consolidation OF telegraph
companies had not been followed by an in
crease of rates, except in cases where compe-
luton had brought the rates down below cost,
making an increase Of rates absolutely neces-
sary. Rates had been reduced generally
Witness laughingly alluded to his experience
with Legislatures, remarking that he had to
take the Legislature down in. the lunch-room
and open bottle of Wine so that they would
wait long enough to hear him on the subject
OF free passes. The witness said 1--WE have
given ont large number OF telegraph passes
TO Legislators and various high Executive Of
ncerS. They were merely of q compliment
arT character, as there were many prom
lnent men who desired to let the people know
OF their movements and to send messages TO
their families or personal friends. Inasmuch
as number OF these complimentary passes
had been returned, the company was not par
ucular about issuing them unless they were
solicited" In regard to the relationship ex-
listing between the Western Union and the
Associated Press, DIR. Green said it was
purely of business character, and as it
was an exceptional business it required a
special contract. The Associated Press claim
the right of property in the news which they
obtain, as they have their own methods of
Sd. ~ ''S
Further testimony was given by DR.. Green
on the 3D.. In reply to a question as to
whether he did not think it would be a wise
policy for corporations to provide some MAIN
tenance for faithful and long continued serv-
ice, Dr. Gre IN said: sit is against the genius
81 American institutions to pay pensions but
! think the matter worthy OF consideration.
In England, believe, they give a pension after
thirty years OF service. These pensions are
predicated on q good record do not think
TINT men would forcgo their pensions by GO
ing on strike. The Witnesses said that there
were several organizations of a beneficial
character in the Western Union which aided
the members in sickness or distress. There
was one society which gave one thousand doll
lars to thewidow of n deceased member Ii
corporations would assist these organizations
it would, he thought, allay the discontent
witness was further questioned as to whether
tho Western Union could not do some-
thing 10 improve the condition of its enl-
ployes and replied that corporations We're or
gani2ed to make money, and not pro bono
pubiico, He said that while he had great SYM
pathy with the laboring people, he would like
to see every man employed according 70 his
talents Strikers fQrhigher wages generally
proved failures. Men most likely to re-
ceive increased wages were those who
stood by ther employers Labor organiza-
tons, Mr.. Green said, created feeling of
distrust between capital and labor, and did
Aboring men more harm than good. He did
not recognize the right Of any organization
to dictate terms TO employers, and wherever
they presumed upou such dictation it was
sure to react and do them harm. 1t the men
were entitled to increase of pay they usually
got il.