The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-17
CITY COUNCIL MEETS.
RECEIVES PETITION CONCERNING
TELEPHONE TROUBLE.
Cha mber of Commerce Committee
Asks for the Revocation of Com
pany's Franchise--Case VIII Come
I'd Tonight for Consfderatisn.

At the regular meeting OF the city coun-
ell last night a petition was presented by
tho Chamber Of Commerce and the seat
Gle merchants, asking the council 70 de-
clare the franchise OF the Sunset Tele-
phone n Telegraph Company forfeited.
Tho petition sets forth the various causes
Of complaint against the company. espe-
eiaiIy A. regards injustices to the mem
bers OF the operators' union
The council unanimously voted TO cite
the company TO appear tonight before tho
COMMITTEES of the whole and show reason
why it's franchise should not BIO forfeited.
Tho committees presenting the complaint
were also requested to be present
when the telephone question came up
The chamber was crowded 70 its fullest
capacity, besides tho aboye-named com.
ana butcher associations and OF the
operators union being present. ,.,
and following it's reading spoke at ats some ne
length in its support. The company ne
declared, was no longer worthy q ths
msrchsnts Of the esty. and Fred Rice
Howell on behalf o. the srocers and butch
MOI able 10 meet the business demands
OF the city, and asked that the evil pc
remedied 7. W. Prosch. secretary OF
the Chamber OF Commerce. also spoke.
All OF the speakers stated that the com
many failed 10 come up 10 the require
ments of It's franchise regarding efficiency
Navin then made the motion that the
revocation of the franchise be considered
tonight by the council In committee OF
the whole The petition to the chamoer
"Ths committee appointed by the Seat
tie Chamber OF Commerce at Its weekly
meeting on July T. 70 iraure s. ,rie 'h s
this city and the trouble between the sun
set Company and It's employees, having
been given the power by said chamber 70
arbitrate these differences and settle the
same II possible. has arrived at the follow
ing conclusions. after calling upon both
sidea for Information, and after making
tho most careful investigation under the
circumstances, which conclusions are be-
iieved 70 be essential facts Of this matter.
and which are herewith respectfully pre-
scented 70 your honorable ,o,,s body Tho ,o,s,,
rate OF wages paid by the Sunset Tele-
phone Company 10 It's employees In this
city was sS per month for eight hours
daily work; competent operators. after
certain period OF service. being prom
fsed more Times were duller then, money
less abundant and wages generally lower.
~ For the past two years as the COM
pany has Increased its business. its In
come and rs force. II has reduced tho
wages. In this respect. reversing the bet
ter course Of the ordinary corporation and
employer throughout the country. OF the
sixty-hve Gtris employed previous to the
present difficulty, not more than five re-
coived t27.bo per month, and none more.
About thirteen received f25 per month;
about seventeen fa so and about thirty
40 per month, all working nine hours q
day during the week and from six and
one-haif 20 seven hours every othsr Sum
day.
70 The company promised TO all Of its
o2n per month employees n 81 so per month
rniso after six months service. This prom
ise was partially kept In a few instances,
N those few tho women Receiving their
n nr srysss sIss 'as ss
committee site the cases OF Miss Terry
and Miss Huehte0. who are admitted TO be
most eompctent operators: and who work
ed eighteen months for so a month before
receiving their promised advance.
- The present per'ntendent, Mr., MIL
lard, Is evidently the willing and subser-
sointe monopoly. and which for the past
two years has not shown cousidera ,ton for
or met the wants Of the public. and which
has deal, most unjustiy and harshiy by
its employees That the poor service given
To tho citizens for the past year or two
has been largely due 10 We narrow and
'"h"s" isr Ss''s rSrr Is s" sr,ss p
on hand always In The promise OF en-
rioyment. who work at odd hours. and are
allowed 70 practice on the public. 20 the
public injury receiving no pay whatever
for their trial performances one girl In
particular, Mlrs Robler worked for nine
weeks, and was then discharged without
her promisod employment receiving no
pay whatever Tor her two months labor.
- About July the fth the teleph lne
girls, Desiring 60 effect redress - their
grievances, to which Mr.. Willard had per.
eistsntly turned deaf ear. Attempted TO
form an organisation. which was par,Io,-
psttd In by practically all Of the operators
In the cumpany's employ Before a de
mRnd of any Kind whatsoever had been
made upon the company three girls sup
posed BY the manaaemeut Go he ring-i~aa-
oldest ard hest paid operators IN the com.
pany = service were, on account Of their
supposed leadership In this movement
rutnmarllN discharged. whAreupon nftV-
three other operators asked 81 the som.
pany the reinstatement % the discharged
tafac gtrls. assuring the company that Ali
Ind participated equally IN this urganisas
iion, and that these three operators wers
not IN reality rtDg-lcaaers and demanded