The Detroit times., 1910-11-29
Independent Telephones
By FREDERIC ] HASKIN

instruments and prospective sub
scriber frequently Is kept on the wait
ing list for years. Recently q prom
inent hotel In commercial center
after waiting two years to get tele-
phone, paid $3.50 for the privilege or
using the line OF a neighbortng house.
The annual rental for residential tele-
phones is SIS. which strikes one ~
surprisingly reasonable In view OF the
user must often wait from half an
hour To an hour for connection un-
less he Is willing 10 pay double rate!
When the user or telephone In ia
pan Is in a hurry call Is "mushi-
mushi."
In accordance with instructions
from the United States senate, the
Department Of Commerce and Labor
made a thorough investigation OF the
telephone companies In the United
States and Its report, which was made
public last spring, throws an interest
ing light upon many conditions. rt
was found that the evil of preferential
calls has almost entirely disappear
cd. Fifteen years ago the telephone
operators were allowed to receive
brought about most undesirable
condition OF favoritism TO the individ-
ual who sent the operator Christmas
gifts or flowers and theater tickets.
Now this abuse has almost entirely
disappeared and with some com
panies operators are not allowed to
give their names to telephone users.
except for period OF ten days or two
4 NuAs .lr1 lN..N. st-.A. - H.
companies do not ever permit this,
but allow the operators to give their
numbers and when gifts are sent TO
the exchange they are distributed to
those for whom they are intended.
Even this privilege Is being abolished
| by most companies.
In large cities where brokerage
firms handle large volume OF busi-
ness a special operator Is frequently
assigned TO a brokers' line during the
rush hours. but as there was no evil
dence that this practice Is prejudicial
10 the average subscriber. but rather
help In that II relieves the switch
boards OF congestion, no complaint
| has ever been made against the prac-
tice. Before the telephone exchanges
became such enormous affairs the
chronic fault-finding subscribers al
ways were shown special considera-
! ton and the GROWERS" number on
the switchboard was indicated by
frosted green light, instead of the
usual white one. Whenever this
green light flashed 1t was an Office
rule that the call should be given i'm.
mediate attention in preference to all
others. But as the number OF "growl-
ers' increased the impracticability Of
the idea. as well as its unfairness, re-
suited In an adjustment OF the green
glow.
In January, 1910. there were only
Ave local federal unions OF telephone
operators affiliated with the American
Federation OF Labor. Strikes have
been remarkably rare and have In
nearly every instance been settled in
less than week. These unions re-
semble social clubs rather than trade
unions and their relations to the man
ayers are reported as generally en-
tirely friendly. In practically all the
Independent telephone companies op-
orators are permitted to select the ex-
change In which they shall work, and
every reasonable effort is made to get
the girls into the exchanges nearest
their homes. Choice Of tricks" or
operating shifts,-is usually granted
each operator by the company rules,
and often is granted In the absence
or rules. In most exchanges there
are relief periods OF fifteen minutes In
the forenoon and afternoon
The life OF the girl telephone oper.
ator is generally recognized as more
trying on the nerves than that of any
Of the other ordinary occupations
open TO women The work requires n
constant strain on the eye, constant
alertness OF hearing in order to un-
derstand properly the numbers called
by vast variety OF voices In a great
variety of tones, and lastly a great
tax on the voice, with an incessant
number please" The nervous strain
during the rush hours of the day Is
terrific with petulant subscribers In.
stantly moving receiver arms up and
down. causing a click each time In the
ear OF the operator.
IL the large telephone companies
now conduct schools of instructions
FOR applicants, and there are more or
less rigid health requirements, as
well as height specifications A girl
under five feet tall has little chance
OF getting a position In a large ex-
change as she would be unable to
reach over the big switchboard.
There Is also a voice qualification. A
girl must have distinct and not un.
musical enunciation. A canvass of a
typical exchange showed that out OF
70 girls 90 were born In this country.
Tomorrow-Cement Makers and