The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-31
THE TELEPHONE COMPANY.
States Its Attitude on the Present
Situation Through Mr.. 6. b. Hop.
kins, Its 6eneral Manager.

with reference TO the order to take out
telephones which Is now being circulated
among and signed by subscribers, we are
asked: "will the company take out the
telephones when the order Is presented
II we are not afraid of an opposition COM
pany being started. and II the threat OF
municipal ownership does not scare usT'
The brief business way of disposng OF
these questions would be to answer sim
ply. Yes" to the first one and No to
the other pu. 10 ta az 81 tee
when the clash actually comes. II seems
TO me that a somewhat extended answer
will be more respectful and opportune
On the 18th inst. the Chamber of Com
merce appointed a committee to do two
things First. to make an effort to bring
about an Improvement in the telephone
service; second to offer TO arbitrate be-
tween the company and its employees with
a view of securing for the latter better
scale Of wages. shorter hours and return
The public has already betn informed as
to what steps are being taken 10 improve
the service. II knows that all Of the
new switchboards will be installed tomor-
row or next day and thereafter good serv-
Ice given. II knows that the company
has done all that was asked. and more. in
the matter of hours. wages and payment
OF over 500 in extra salary Also that
the company gave its word to reinState
the operators. reserving only the right to
arrange the details OF reinstatement In n
manner calculated to insure discipline.
Still the committee reports to the Cham
Der OF Commerce as follows.
In view of the fact that Mr.. Sabin has
positively refused TO meet with the COM
mittee to investigate the telephone
been settled and the operators had decid-
ed to return to work. new conditions were
imposed; also that we have no guarantee
that the telephone company will keep Its
faith any better in future than 1t has in
Resolved. That the Sunset Telephone
a Telegraph Company be at once instruct
ed to remove our telephones"
Which report. boiled down. means that
MIR. Sabin did not talk 20 the committee.
and that his word. puoiiciy given, that he
would take the operators back. cannot be
relied upon.
The committee fails to remember that
upon my hrst appearance before them. at
their meeting In the Chamber OF Com
merce rooms. I stated. and was quoted in
the newspapers. as stating, that Il did not
desire to engage In a cross-fire OF ques-
lions with striking operators-but was
anxious TO meet the business men alone;
that they refused my request for such
meeting" They also forget that the
telephone company Is a member OF the
Chamber of Commerce and as such was
entitled TO a calm and dispassionate dis
eussion OF Its troubles with its fellow
members.
In the light Of these facts is It surprss-
ing that Mr.. Sabin did not meet the bust
ness men after he was advised OF the way
they had treated the request OF his repre-
sentative7
With reference TO Mr.. sablns veracisy.
the committee Is entitled 20 It's own views.
II they believe he would promise to take
the operators hack and then deliberately
break that promise. such is their privi-
iegc, san. II must seem 70 disinterested
readers that Mr.. Sahins thorough inves-
tigation. prompt and liberal application
OF remedies, even going 40 far as to con-
cede all that was asked Of him save the
sacrifice 81 discipline, Is a sufficient guar
antee. OF the senerousness OF his future
intentions Regardless o. the opinion OF
the committee the company win maintain
tho new scale Of wages. the hours ~ la
Dor. the extra salaries. and give good
service,
The negotiations In the matter OF rein
statements having been declared on by
the young ladies themselves. puts an end
70 this feature and all offers on both
sides are Withdrawn However the
company a still willing 10 receive appli-
cations from such young ladies' as want
% return, ana those aceepted viii be re-
inxtated under the new scale % wages
and with fun creais fur pas; term Of serv-
Ice
me Sunset Company has had such large
experieAce IN the last few years with op-
ppsitioa companies that threats OF this
character no longer have force Tire
people who put their money IN SUCH ven
lures lose g. The stock rnanipu'ator
sucks all the Juice out % the orange.
and tire honest wsii-inteutioned but rats
guided Siockh0lder nais h!mseif with an
improbable Tiznt on his hands. He soon
pockets his less and wteps out % sight
This has been tbs history Of most an op-
position companies Municipal ownership
% telephone exchanges has never vet hesn
tried in the I'nitei States but as I; would
necessarily be conducted on a political
basis Il Is hardly NksIy the necessary
dirlplina would be enforced
Answering ths FRS inquiry, What all
The company DO when L receives the or
der 90 take the instruments outr--oniv
one reply can be expected The company
- n0t presumed to consider the motives
~ The subscriber IN making The order
Aftef receiving all concessions asked for
" the community thtnks wholesale dis
continuance % telephone service Il fl4xsi-
hsi on the exclusive ground that preSi-
daat Sahin dtd not talk % certain citizens
and because On the opinion % said rl.i-
zeus his word Is unreliable. 81 r. the sub
-scriNers privilege % order the tsisnhane
discontinued and the companys duty "a
take them cut as fast as p1sSib after
tire order be received, and this Will b.
promptly done c. n HOPKINS,
Adv, General Agent,