The Washington herald., 1907-10-06

With the State officials Of several Com
monwealths moving against the two com
mercial telegraph companies. and with
the fact recently made known that these
two companies cannot attend to all the
government business which they have
been called upon to handle, the officers
of the Commercial TeIcEraphers' Union
yesterday took what they believe is one
Of the last moves I'm the present strike
when they appealed to the government Of
the United States
With the Department Of Justice a COM
plant has been made by the telegraphers
in which it is alleged that the two COM
panies on which they are waging war
have violated the provisions Of the Sher-
man antitrust law. and that in combina-
tion they have increased their rates from
% 20 Co per cent
This is not the first time that such
charges have been made. as the Central
Labor Union of this city. at a meeting
held some time since, passed resolutions
calling for an investigation Of the two
companies by the government. At this
time practically the same assertions were
made as were presented yesterday 10 the
Department Of Justice.
Had Appealed TO President.
It was stated last night by one Of the
striking telegraphers that these resolu-
uons We're presented 90 President Roose-
Welt, but that only a note acknowledging
their receipt had been received from his
secretary. After some time In which il
is believed the question whether a now
tack, that of advising with Charles p.
Neill. Commissioner Of Labor, was con-
sidered, 70 was finally settled that q for
NAL complaint should be lodged with the
Department of Justice That this com
plant will be considered was also made
known by the department. but that II Will
take some time before any opinion will
be given out is admitted by the teleg-
raphcTs.
This. according TO the strikers. is not
the last move in the series that have
been planned by Samuel J. Small uresi-
dent OF the Commercial TeIegraphers'
Union, and his advisers. The next step
u all else fails, is 10 be a petition. drawn
by an attorney Of this city, which viii be
presented 10 Congress as soon as the
coming session opens in December. This
petition. according 10 one Of the high of
hceTs OF the strikers union, will call for
an investigation Of the properties of the
two commercial companies by the Inter
state Commerce Commission.
BY this method It is hoped TO obtain
an appraisement of the property of the
companies on which may be based true
toll charges.
Claim sympathy of Congress-.
The keymeu already claim that several
Congressman and Senators are favorablv
Inclined toward them, and In addition.
believe that the actions Of various States
viii have much weight in determining the
attitude of the legislators.
President Small left Washington yes
terday, but not before he had a confer
ence with Samuel Gompers, at which
the consideration Of the final moves in
the game were discussed. Before ne left
the city Mr.. Small declared that he was
entirely satisfied with the manner in
which the strike is going, and said that
the financial end Of the strike is very
encouraging. He was not greatly sur
prised over the fact that the companies
failed to deliver all the reports of gin
ming operations on time. and said that
the strike has closed many of the Of
fees in the South. Mr.. Small went from
this city to New York, but at the strik-
ers' headquarters it was stated last
night that he is expected in Washing
ton next week
Vice President Beattie said that the
work Of prosecution OF the two com
panies by the government will be backed
by cold, hard facts and that in this work
the strikers VIII have the backing of a
large number Of Congressman and Sena-
tors.