Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-07-25
Notes on the Strike.

The internal revenue bureau has received
an official notification from the company that
its messages will be subject to delay. This
is said to be the first notice that has been
served upon the government of this kind.
Some government officers who examined the
statute say that to refuse or neglect to send
government message is plainly actionable,
and that any district attorney could bring
suit for delay.
A Washington despatch says: The strike
situation here remains in statu quo. The
operators are confident and the companies
are determined. A crisis is looked tor about
Wednesday noon. That is the time said to
be fixed by seven of the ten expert
operators who remain with the Western
Union to abandon work. unless in the mean
time some negotiations shall have been COM
manced to secure an adjustment of the diff
culties.
The teegraphic deadlock continues with
out important change in the situation. The
public is fast losing patience, and legal meas
ures to compel the Western Union 10 resume
Its proper position as public servant are be-
ing resorted t. in Boston and other places.
OBJECTIONS in other departments of Western
Union employ threaten to still further Grip
pie the service. And yet the officials of the
company urbanely announce that everything
is going smoothly, that business is being
handled with reasonable promptness-Boston
Journal.
One of the leading operators says there are
22, 900 operators in the United States. Of
this number 10, 900 went out last Wednesday.
Seven thousand railroad operators did not
strike but they belong to the brotherhood
and will quit their KEYS when so ordered.
Out Of the remaining 20OO who did not be-
long to the brotherhood when the strike oc-
Cured 1900 have since Joined, leaving only
500 operators in the entire country who are
not under absolute control of the brotherhood.
The companies are anxious that there
should not be storm until the strike ends,
as it would be very difficult to repair the
lines in the event of storm. An old line
man says Let there be storm in Wash
ington New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia,
Chicago or any other important news or
commercial centre, and the wires could not
be put in working order again, without the
help of trained linemen, in two weeks, and
the result would be an entire suspension of
business, an interruption that would amount
to entire suspension
The first Boston house to bring the ma
chinery of the law to bear upon the Western
Union is the Bay State Sugar Refinery. Its
oincers OF the company nrst notlned the COM
pany ia New York of its intended action. and
Monday afternoon three representatives of
the firm offered a message at 100 State street
for New York. The receiving clerk pro-
ceeded to stamp on its face accepted. sub
ject to mailing OF other delay" The gen.
tleman refused to allow the message to re-
main under such conditions, and 1t was re-
turned to them. Superintendent Roche was
consulted, and said he was powerless in the
matter, being obliged to follow instructions
from New York. Au action will therefore
be begun at once in the supreme court to
compel the company to resume its duties to
the public. 1t is believed that penalty of
800 and full damages resulting can be col
lected of the company for every message re-
fused or delayed. Other suits of a similar
nature have been threatened, and will doubt
less be brought.