The Washington herald., 1907-06-21

| - htGike VIII De dcclnred nt noon In
san Francisco and Oakland. which
viii tie up the Western Union lines
here. 4 committee from the local
telegrRphers' union, including Presi-
dent Small, callesI upon Superintendent
Jaynes to-day, hut was turned down
/ The men demanded rs per cent in
crease temporarily.
New York. June 2o.-The strike Of the
telegraphers against the Western Union.
which had been decided on by vote. and
which might have involved the Postal
Company. was averted to-day through the
good offices of Charles p. Neiu, United
States Commissioner Of Labor. who came
here as the representative Of President
Roosevelt.
The strike was 10 have taken place in
| San Francisco between the Path and 2sth
Of this month and 10 be extended at once if
not effective there. President s J. Small.
of the Commercial Telegraphers' Union Of
America, who went 90 San Francisco sew
eral days ago 70 manage the strike, was
notified this afternoon by Deputy Presi- |
dent Konenkamp that the strike was call |
ed of by the executive committee.
Mr.. Nell informed the executive COM
mittee at 12:3J p. m that he had re-
ceiyed a letter from President and Cen
eral Manager Ciowry. of the Western |
Union Company. in which he agreed 10 !
make the 10 per cent advance in wages /
universal, and TO include the men on the /
waiting list TO abolish the sliding /
scale 20 make q standard rate Of wages /
for all wires. and 10 pledge that there /
would be no discrimination against union /
operators.
Postal I'm Friendly Statement.
After a short consultation with the /
members Of the executive committee.
Konenkamp agreed to waive the demands |
that the company furnish the typewriters
and the demand for the eight-hour work
day Though Commissioner NELL had no
conference with the officials OF the Postal .
Company. Vice President and General /
Manager Edward J. Nallv. Of the Postal
Company. issued statement over his
signature OF such a friendly nature that
Postal employees, and was accepted by
the telegraphers' executive committee in
good faith,
Alr. Nally's statement was a disclaimer
that the company had ever refused to
treat with IT'S employees.
Postal willing to Negotiate.
General Manager NaIly, Of the Postal,
In his statement, says:
Nov that all the troubles Of the West
ern Union Telegraph Company have been
adjusted, I wish 10 say for the Postal
Telegraph-Cable Company that the state
ment to the effect that this company re-
fused TO consider requests or complaints
from its employees. either individually or
as a committee, is entirely untrue We
have always been glad 10 meet any OF
our employees and TO consider any matter
which they might care to present.
For instance our Chicago employees
recently made an application for a still
further Increase Of wages Inasmuch as
we increased the wages Of operators.
chief operators, and managers, 10 per
cent on March l. and on April gave the
chief operators an additional increase.
and on the same day we increased the
salaries Of our clerical force. we did not
feel justified in making still further in
creases. and We explained to them the {
reason why. On June i. I wrote a letter :
on that subject TO our general superinten- h
dent in Chicago Mr. Capen, as follows: r
Please say 10 the employees whose 2
names are signed to the communication
Of recent date addressed to you. and =
which you forwarded to me with your let 4
ter Of June 6. that we are unable at this
time 10 give favorable consideration to 2
their request for shorter hours and in :
creased wages. @
We have already done all that we can {
afford 10 do. We cannot, in justice 10 T
the cOmpany's interests and with busi-
ness prudence. do more. If in the list >
Of minor grievances submitted there are
any that call for attention and considera- 3
ton, I shall be glad to have yours and
Mr. CAROLS recommendation as to what Z
you think should be done in each case I
If there are any rules in force which Y
may, at times. work a hardship upon -
our employees. We should do our utmost
10 remedy them. Great care should be >
exercised to prevent under-Chiefs and
others from unfair enforcement of rules b
and regulations. and from unjust dis 0
elimination and unkind treatment OF the a
force. s
1T Is the earnest desire Of the manage :,
nent that all our employees shall be I,
reated with consideration. and that ev-
Fry reasonable and proper effort be made
% insure their health and comfort" !
Mr.. Nell left for Washington at 3 y. m e.
o-day. He had conferences with both the Il
Western Union officials and the officials @
# the union every day while he was here ii
dr. Neill, after several meetings with al
President Clowry. obtained from him the L
propositions embodied in Mr.. Clowrv's
etter. which the officers Of the union tC
ccepted. He did not consider It enough n
IS far as the Postal employees were con S
erned, to go TO the Postal officials. Ct
The telegraphers were in a great state &
f jubilation to-day at the settlement of fC
heir grievances without a strike. and jc
oud in their praises Of Commissioner
seill. in