Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-07-20
Sunset Telephone Selfishness.

An example of the contemplate self
ishness OF man and the grinding
power OF corporate greed, is afforded
just now in the telephone service al
Seattle. The operatives consist oil
girls, dependent upon their own exer-
tions for a livelihood. They have
been paid the munifcent salary of SIC
per month for nine hours a day, and
ten hours at night, of exacting labor
and because three Of their number at
tempted to organize union for mu
tual aid and advancement, they were
summary discharged from service
The sixty other girls, equally interest
ed, refused to work until their com.
panions were reinstated, and the com.
pany Immediately recruited their ser.
vice from the byways, with girls who
were placed at work at the same
starvation wages, under direction oil
a few skilled switch.women from Tia.
coma. The service, under such con
ditions has been simply worthless
and when the Seattle Chamber of
Commerce attempted to reason with
the arrogant Sunset company, pri-
marily in the interests of the pub
lie for securing an adequate service
and generally for the protection OF
humanity in demanding a compensa-
ton that may keep life and body to-
gether, President Ssbin very CURLY re-
fuses to submit the matter to arbitra-
ton, or to accept of any advice from
representatives of the people who pay
for the service and have uncomplain-
ingly accepted a poor consideration
for good money.
To show how exceedingly strained
is the milk OF human kindness flowing
in the veins OF this soulless corpora
ton. we have only to state that not
withstanding the company's business
has been gaining at pace that they
could scarcely keep up with, they
have paid their operatives a wage-rate
which, with the strictest economy,
left them penniless after paying for
board, room-rent, car-fare and wash
bills. Not q cent was left for luxu-
ries, or in providing reserve fund for
day or two off, even in case Of sick
ness.
The company have magnanimously
consented to increase the wage-rate to
$3.50 at the end of six months, to
$25 after eighteen months and $50 at
at the end of two years of continuous
service, but reserving the privilege
of terminating the contract at any
time. which they generally find it con-
venient to do after the operative has
qualified herself, by length of service,
for an advance in wages. One object
of the form alton of the union, which
excited the fear as we'll as the ire OF
the benevolent wage.payer, was the
project of scrimping their small wages
and raise few dimes for purchase of
books and periodicals whereby they
might endeavor to keep themselves in
formed of the worlds progress.
The Sunset Company is by no
means different from other monopo.
lies, except that it deals almost entire
~ with class of people the least able
to stand up for their rights, poor and
generally defenseless women, and, in
asmuch as that is true, are entitled to
a proportionate increase Of vigor in
public excavation.
The latest phase OF the matter is an
application to the courts for a restrain.
ing order to prevent the City Council
from passing an ordinance for for
fixture OF the company's charter which
they had directed the corporation
to draft.