The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-08
|G.N. PUTS In PHONES
photographers Along the Line Regard
the Move as Being Possibly
Significant, J.
Think It May Be Prompted by
Demands They Wilson
Make.

Are "hello lines" going to take the place
of the telegraph lines along the Great
Northern railway? is question that just
| at present very unpleasantly presses itself
| upon a. large number of the employees of
| that road, particularly those of the tele-.
graph department. Recent actions of the
company seem to warrant the considera-
| ton of the question. sya
Withinzt the past few days telephone ex-
perts, under the direct supervision of E. J.
Little, superintendent of telegraph, have
been at work installing telephones at va
rious stations from Larimore, N. D., west
| ward, the work, apparently, being under
rush orders for. completion, and an adj
| vance of one and two stations being made
| daily. r.. - p -...- ..
| While it is possible, or even probable,
! that this may have no bearing on the
question OF, the presentation of demand
upon the company by the telgraphers for
the recognition of their order and the
adoption of a schedule, conveying certain
4 rights, increase in pay, etc., upon the tel
raphers, the action is not looked upon
with favor by those so employed and their
friends. ,a.< Ia ,...-. .--s= E. -.a
! 1t is a commonly known fact that the
telegraph operators, agents and others Of
! that department have been very busily at
work for the past few months strengthen
| ing their organization preparatory to send
ing a committee to meet with the officials
| of the company to make an endeavor to
| better the general conditions of employ
ment.> What the reception this commit
! tee and it's presentation will meet with is
only to be conjectured. While the COM
| pany has always shown q willingness to
meet with representatives of the employees
and endeavor to adjust matters of dissatis-
faction, the telegraphers are inclined to be
apprehensive of discord, primarily for the
reason that the telegraphers, as an order,
have yet to meet the company for the first
| time. The company has, for the greater
| part, the good will Of the men and, while
under the present condition of increased
| cost of living, the question Of wages as
compared to other like railroads, and the
consideration of increased responsibility
| due to the perceptible increase Of business
| the employees feel that their demands are
| justified the sincere expression Of the
| hope that there will be no friction is gen.
| eral. -'r-
Important among the concessions tho
company Will be asked to grant are:
Recognition Of the Order of Railroad
Telegraphers, as accorded. the Railway
Conductors, the Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Engineers, the Brotherhood Of Rail-
! way Trainmen, etc. -, ~.,.
The adoption Of a scale of wages, gov
erned by the work or responsibility at the
relative stations,
The right to claim over time for work
| performed after certain hours of work or
| for being called to return to work during
the night.
| The right to appeal, personally or by
representation, against official decision Of
discipline or dismissal considered unmer-
| tied, etc. ! -5r.+0 --.
While it is generally conceded that the
| telephone, on account of the liability to
| mistakes through the similarity of sounds
cannot supplant the telegraph for the ham
| ding OF trains by train orders; there is no
question that while the employees may be
attempting to cross bridges they will never
reach, with telephoens installed at all sta
tions so that the aid Of an experienced
operator Is not required, the company
pose the telegraphers should it be deemed
| advisable. - ~ :