Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-08-09

newing its lines and instruments,
but has now replaced most of the old
lines with new ones and we believe so
much of the trouble as was occasioned
| by the worn out condition of the old
lines viii now be obviated. The in
struments furnished subscribers,
however, are back numbers and are
not in harmony with with an up-to-
date modern service. The company
demands an extra charge for modern
instruments, which we believe to be
extortionate. The rentals charged
subscribers are out of proportion to
the service rendered; to the cost of
installation and greater than is
charged by other companies. Your
committee has been advised by gen.
tleman skilled in this business that he
and his associates stand ready to in
stall plant in these cities that will
furnish better service on more liberal
contract terms and at a greatly re-
duced rate.
We believe that the greater portion
of the troubles experienced in the
past are directly traceable to the ap-
parent desire of the board of direc-
tors. which we believe is Influenced in
turn by the extortionate demands of
the Bell Telephone company, the
parent company. Their policy, we
believe, is to encourage strife between
the various managers, not in furnish
ing the best service, but in making
the greatest returns in rentals at the
lowest possible cost.
To this policy is attributable the
practice of cutting down the wages
of the overworked, over strained girls
in this office to D cents per hour and
working them nine and one-half hours.
Wages Inadequate.
Such wages are grossly inadequate.
They are lower than girls receive as
typewriters, clerks or servants, while
the tax upon their health, their nerves
and their patience is far more exact
ing.
Such a pittance for such tedious
service furnishes no inducement to
the girl to place any value upon the
position. She certainly holds such
position merely as makeshift till
something better turns up. Hence the
constant changes in the central office.
A green girl certainly can not render
the subscriber the service that an ex-
perienced girl can render. Sheis unac-
quainted with the board, with the
wishes and habits of the subscribers,
and besides is perhaps Indifferent as
to whether she pleases or not. We
certainly could not blame her much
if she were Disguised with her Job.
Your committee believes that most
-
it were not for the greed of the COM
pany IN withholding from its en-
ployes adequate compensation for
their exacting duties. Possibly, too.
little more liberality would secure
more competent electricians, who
could quickly locate faults and cor
rect them.
If it is the demands of the parent
company that render these reforms
impossible, nevertheless the sub
scriber can not go behind the con-
tracing company in fixing the re-
sponsibility. Your committee has
had numerous meetings with the man
aging officers of the company, but has
no results to report so far as securing
from the company that
are desired.
Concessions Desired.
The concessions desired are:
First-A rebate for bad service.
Second-A reduction of rentals for |
the future.
Third-Adequate compensation for
We have no results to report, mere |
ly the assurance of the management !
that rebate has been'advised and an |
increase in wages. A source of con-
slant vexation is the rule enforced |
that when the line or the instrument |
is out of order the girl must answer
cant get them" imputing the blame |
to the subscriber in not being present |
at his place of business instead of adj
vertising and confessing the in |
efficiency of the service. This fiction |
of an attempt and of failure to get |
the person called causes delay to
the subscriber, breeds impotence in
the business relations between one
and another and unjustly
attaches the blame on the innocent |
who apparently does not
respond instead of fixing it where it
justly belongs. This practice is es-
pecially aggravating to employees
whose duty it is to be present at their
places of business. and who are thus
advertised as being absent
or inattentive. The local management
to defend this rule and
doubtless intends to ignore the pro-
tests of the subscribers.
Your committee is not disposed to
be quieted by empty promises. The
universal experience of the public
with the company in the past is such
that 1t would be vain to expect any
equitable adjustment for the past bad
service; any reasonable rate for the
future or any compensation for the
above the lowest figures that
the most inefficient help can be OBJ
tanned for. Your committee has no
reason to expect any change in the