The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-26
THE NEW MEN COMPETENT
Superintendent McCully Says That
the TeIeph one Company Has
Less Tro uble Than Before.

The State Board of Arbitration con
tinued it's investigation today in Kelly's
Hall on the telephone mems strike
Superintendent H. G. McCuliy of the
New York aud New Jersey Teleph one
Company was questioned by Mr.. Nc
Donnell He said he forwarded the
strikers petition to his superiors, but got
no answer to it beyohg acknowledgment
of its receipt
Would the company, SO far as you
know, have any objection TO signing an
agreement with the employees If they
should return?"
II couldn't say as to that"
How many men left your employment
in New Jersey?
"About seventy five all through the
division; fifty of them were cllmbers."
MANY VACANCIES FILLED.
Have any of them returned?"
'Two in Jersey City and two In New
ark"
Have you filed the places of the
others?"
I'VE have to large extent aud so far
as absolutely necersary. We obtained
large gang from Staten Island aud Free
hold. Nearly all the places of the
climbers have been flied"
Are the new men as competent as the
old men?"
"They are entirely competent. Yes,
sir''
You think the interest of the public is
| not likely to suffer-"
mot at all. We, in fact, have less
| trouble than before"
III any arrangement could be made so
| the old men could return would not the
public interest be benef1tted~
TAKING CARE OF THE PUBLIC.
| Mr.. McCully said the company was
| taking good care OF the public now. He
couldn't sse how it could do any more
| for the men than 1t had been doing. The
| company was kindly disposed toward
| the men. Some of the men had told him
| they wouldn't have gone into the union il
| they had known it would require them to
strike. He thought that most OF the men
were willing to return. Their places are
open for them. The company was willing
to treat with the men individually but
not with The Union. He was instructed
| to ask applicants whether they were
union men.
The Company had paid per cent. divi-
| dends for several years, he said. Presi
dent Miller, of The Electrical Workers
Union questioned Mr.. McCully about the
company's finances and the cost of con-
| structiug the lines. Mr.. McCully said
the company had 4,750 telephones in New
Jersey and gained about $50 a year. The
capital WAS So. 100000. He couldn't tell
about the earnings.
PRESIDENT MILLER'S APPEAL.
Grand President Miller argued the
cause of the strikers. He alluded to the
great advantage Of the Company over
the strikers. and the Company's profits
had increased enormously, he
said, that it ought TO be
pleased to grant the demands of the line
men. He defied any man to say the COM
pany had put $l.000.O 600 into the concern;
aud yet he would be willing to wager
that 1t would not sell out for s.. 600, 900.
At the request OF The Grand President.
j. P. Willis, one of the original commit
| tee of three from Local Union, No. "a. of
Brooklyn. who waited upon Assistant
| Superintendent Cower with the
petition for tho increase, was
allowed to tell of the committees
treatment. Mr.. Willis said that when
| tue committee presented the petition Mr..
Conover threw 1t aside ahd, asking the
names of the members of the committee,
gave directions to a subordinate to make
out their time. Wnen they asked why
they were discharged they were answered
For leaving your work"
1--WE then took the petition to General
Superintendent Reilly. who read it sew
eral times and then said. i will not grant
your demands. >"
The Board then took q recess.