The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-16
More in Regard to Santa Fe
Photographers.
Claimed That No Demand for
More Pay Is Made.
THE SANTA FE SCALE.
Higher Now Than Any Road Ex-
cept Northern Pacific.
One of the Santa Fe Operators
Talks.

The Albuquerque newspapers assert
that the Santa Fe telegraphers have de-
manded an increase in the pay from the
Santa F'e, and that up to January 5 this
demand had not been complied with.
There is reason to believe that the
rumors of trouble. and of q demand for
more pay from the Santa, Fe telegraph
operators have little foundation Super
intendent c. H. Gaunts when shown one
of the clippings from an Albuquerque
paper concerning the alleged demand
for increased wages, said:
There's no truth in it. No demand
for more pay has been made. and SO far
as I know none win be made. Under
this recent reorganization of the tele-
graph department, and the installation
of the quadruplex system, we have con-
siderably revised our wages schedule,
and it has been necessary to increase
the salaries of many positions in order
to fill them with men competent to
handle the increased complexity of the
work The Santa Fe is now paying
larger salaries than any road except the
Northern Pacific"
Mr. Gaunt was formerly with the
Northern Pacific as assistant superin-
tendent of telegraph and he is modelling
the Santa F'e reorganization on the plan
of the Northern Pacific. It appears,
however, that within the past few days,
the employees of the telegraph depart
ments of the various railways centerlng
in St Paul have made a demand for an
increase. The committees called upon
the officials Thursday and submitted a
new wages schedule and a new book OF
rules.
One of the Albuquerque items which
makes the statement that the Santa Fe
teIegraphers are demanding an increase
in pay is as follows:
IN spite of denials from Topeka,
there is still reason to believe that there
is something doing among the telegraph
operators of the Santa Ee. Local oper-
ators, though keenly interested in the
matter have nothing whatever to Sa y
of the situation. 1t is known that the
operators submitted recently demand
for an increase in wages, and on Janu-
airy this demand had not been met
What the operators intend TO do about II
is the mystery. The general impression
is that the operators, in view of the gen
era1 increase all along the line, viii get
q small raise in wages.
Not only is the report in this item de
MED by Supt. Gaunt. but by Other
Santa Fe men in the telegraph depart
ment. One who does his trick with th'
rest and is in constant touch with ths
men themselves said today to re
porter for the State Journal.
II there was any general plan LOT
/ demand for an increase in wages
would certainly have heard of it. It il
! impossible to keep thing like rha'
secret with a few. OF course it may b.
possible that some individual operators
at certain places have MADE a persona
petition or request for more pay bui
] there is no general movement.
AS an organization. the Order @
/ Railway Telegrap piers has absolutely nt
standing with the Santa Fe. The Santa
F'e does not recognize the union, and
4 think that many Santa Fe operator.
who were formerly members of tn,
union have allowed their membership
to lapse The Santa Fe does not hest
( tate to employ the men who were nixet
up in that last strike, provided they
were not leaders. have seen letter:
issued by General Manager Nudge t
men who were out on that strike stating
/ that they would be re-employed by the
Santa Fe."