Omaha daily bee., 1883-07-20

branches of labor, skilled and unskilled,
when required to perform Sunday work,
receive extra, and in many cases double
pay for such work, which is not the case
with telegraphic employees, who are at
present required to perform such service
without extra compensation.
OF LABOR.
Telegraph operators are required to
possess skill of a high order; their occu-
patton is combining and continuous and
upon them is concentrated the gravest
responsibilities, and this responsibility is
constant and oppressive. 1t wears alike
upon mind and body and impairs the
elasticity of both, while it always de
mands the best conditions of both. The
late Mr.. William orion, president of the
Western Union telegraph company,
whose executive ability and general
knowledge on all subjects pertaining to
telegraphy cannot be questioned, testified
before a congressional committee that
telegraph operators could not perform
daily more than six hours of continuous
labor without ~endangering their health
consequently the demand for eight hours
for day and seven hours for niSht work
is believed to be reasonable and Just. In
a number of the principal offices seven
honrs constitute a nights work at the
present time, but it is claimed by them
that they have no uniform system of
working hours, it being optional with To-
cal managers to regulate the IN and
who to curry favor with their superiors
frequently impose extra working hours
upon the unprotected operator in order
that they may show economical manage
ment.
In explanation Of the demand for a
general increase of 10 per cent, it is only
necessary to call attention to the fire.
quent reductions that have been made,
Notwithstanding the net profits of hand
ling messages are much greater than IN
former years, occasioned by improved
machinery and more skillful labor now
employed.
wHIATsToNE OPERATORS.
The seeming exhorbitant demand in
favor of the wheatstone operators is ex-
planned as follows: Twelve months ago a
number of experts were imported from
England, With the understanding that as
soon as the system was put in practical
operation they would be fairly compen-
stated. On the first of March of the
present year they began work, and were
informed by the manager that their al
lowance was to be $50 per month, at the
same time giving them to understand
that as they succeeded in developing the
system their position would improve.
Five months have elapsed, and although
they have been fully engaged during that
time, and are o doing nearly three
times the amount of work done in the
opening month, they have not yet re-
ceived any indication that their interests
or salaries, w~hichIthey deem wholly mad
equate, are to be improved.
STATISTICS.
The Brotherhood of Photographers has a
general statistician, and also a local stat
i~stician in nearly every city and town in
the United States and Canada. Complete
statistics have been gathered, and show
the following general averages of wages
paid Mt present time. The average pay
for commercial operators in the United
States is SOD. Dc per month; average for
commercial operators of Canada is S37 40
per month; average of railroad operators
in the United States is $50. 30; average
for railroad operators in Canada is 500. IL.
1t should be borne in mind that operators
are not allowed extra compensation for
Sunday work, and that the railroad
operators at stations where but one man
is employed are required to work from
fourteen to sixteen hours per day, and on
many roads are required to sleep in or
convenient to their offices, so that they
may be called to receive orders for de-
layed, and obtain help for wrecked
trains. These calls on many roads are of
frequent occurrence.