Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-08-15
rnE LABOR cOMMIrrEE.
Estimated Cost of Construction OF Tele.
graph Lines.

NEW ORk, aug H.
The United States Senatorial committee on
labor and education resumed its session to-
day. J. F. McLelland resumed his testi-
mOnv He stated that the estimated cost OF
telegraph lines 1900 miles long would be
S725, 1865. An estimate was made upon the
cost OF construction of the Mutual Union
line. which was now amalgamated with the
Western Union. The morale of operators
as class, has greatly improved within the
last ten years, and this was the result OF the
organization which had been effected. Most
of them were single, but some were married.
The witness thought $50 a month was rea-
sonable estimate for TODD and lodging for
month for single man.
Thomas o Reilley, 4 Wheatstone operator,
was the next witness. He had charge OF the
Whearstone instruments in the Western
Union office. aud had been an operator IN
that system ten wears in Scotland; came here
about a wear ago. The Western Union COM
pany gave them $50 a month as retaining
Zee until the Wheatstone instrumdnts should
arrive The instruments did not arrive until
October. and the company kept putting the
men off until they were on the point of seek
ing other occupations. O'Rei.ly character
lied the action of the Western Union COM
panv as base trickery Promises were re-
peatedlv made that WheatstUne men should
receive as much as first class Morse opera
tors.
GA the 2Sth of last July it was announced
that the WheatstUne system would begin op-
Grafton, and the Wheatstone operators were
told that their salary would be $50 a month.
This was received with extreme dis satisfaction,
but, nevertheless, it was decided TO give II a
months trial. At the end of the first month
IL, 900 messages had been sent to and from
Chicago over one wire under the duplex sys-
TEN. Promises of an increase OF salary were
constantly made but never fulfilled. and the
Wheatstone operators were thus induced to
remain until the strike was ordered, when all
went out with the Morse operators, as all
were members OF the brotherhood. The
Wbeatstone patent is owned b. the Western
Union company, but belonged TO the British
government originally, and Is the system
used all over Great Britain and Ireland. 1t
was not probable that the Wheatstone would
supersede the idorse system in this country
from the different character of the work here.
The principal reason for the strike Of these
operators was the deceit and trickery of the
company toward the English operators. The
operators on the other side were better paid,
and had three weeks vacation each year with
salary. During sickness they received half
pay. After being certain number of years
in The service. and their record being good,
they receive a pension for life, sometimes at
full pay when they become superanuated.
All wires in Great Britain and Ireland belong
10 the government, and the tariff was uniform,
being shilling for twenty words and three
pence for each additional five words.
John B. Taltavall, an operator employed
BY the New York associated press, confirmed
the testimony OF the previous witness in re-
gard to the strikes. Every effort was being
made to satisfy the press service and that of
large business interests, but the business OF
the public was being entirely neglected.
ii. w. Orr of Philadelphia "a member of
the brotherhood telegraphers. said that the
salaries paid operators in Philadelphia
ranged from $50 to $50 month. One of
the objects OF the brotherhood was to estab-
lish a telegraph company and that the opera
tors should own their own line. An evidence
of the hostility of the Western Union COM
pany was the systematic policy of reducing
the salaries of its operators during the past
ten years. The witness also gave testimony
in regard to the practice of the Western
Union company in black listing men found to
have been engaged in organizing union or
association of operators.
Eugene O'Conner of Boston, chairman of
executive board of the brotherhood of tele-
graphers gave statistics OF the growth of the
Western Union company since 1866. The
company was now paying per cent. divi-
dends on its stock, and the surplus this year
was 50 .000, 600, notwithstanding. Since the
beginning of the strike the membership of
the brotherhood had nearly doubled and now
numbered about 10000.
Tie hearing will be continued tomorrow.