The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-07-17
MORE ABOUT TELEPHONES


The equipment In Skowheean Is ex-
acfly the same As In Rumford. Nor
va LiFermore Falls and Farming
Ton. Is in good condition. and exactly
The same as would be installed in ar.
exchange the size OF SkoHhegan II new
equipment we're To be purchased today
II has been suggested that Skowhe-
gan people desire common battery ser
wee but It Is not customary and II l.
not desirable 10 install such a switch
board until such time as the exchange
numbers practically 1909 subscribers
The installation OF such a system al
this time would mean a large money
Investment aud would necessitate an
Increase In telephone rates in order TO
pay interest on the new investment
10 not believe that the majority OF
HE subscribers Of this Company in the
skoWhegan Exchange desire the
change OF system with the subsequent
increase OF rates.
find that telephone operators of
tins Company are paid better wages
than any similar class of help in this
section with the possible exception of
sfenographers and chief clerks and
this is naturally so because Of the
greater responsibility put upon such
employees
In addition to the regular salary
paid the employees OF this Company,
each is under the system of Pension
and Disability benefits adopted by this
Company. entitled to sick or accident
benefits when temporarily absent from
duty and those who have been In the
employ OF the Company for a period
OF twenty years may retire on pension
II desired
The insurance scheme also provides
for insurance against death by any
ordinary sickness after an employee
has been five years in the service of
the Company. These benefits are
tangible evidence of the intent of the
management TO perfect and safeguard
the interests of it's employees. A re-
cent case in Norway illustrates the
benefits of the system One of the
operators was out on account of sick
ness for period of l6 weeks. Her
period OF service with the Company
entitled her to full pay for period
OF thirteen weeks and half pay for
the balance of the absence 1t is
needless to say that the amount paid
by the Company came in handy at that
time and that the forethought of the
management was appreciated
Given proper equipment and facili-
ties, good service depends largely upon
the individual operator and the length
OF service. 1t takes time to produce
the expert operator. 1t Is the policy
of the Company to employ local help
in its offices il possible and to encour-
age its employees to remain long in
the service. Even with this well in
tentioned policy old and efficient EN-
ployees sometime leave the service to
the temporary disadvantage of the
Company and to a consequent impair
ment of the service.
In Skowhegan within the past few
months the Company has lost two
operators who had been in the service
of the Company upward of five years.
New operators not long in the service
must of necessity be promoted to fill
their places and for a short time the
service, in so far as speed is concern
ed. might suffer appreciably by the
change.
My own knowledge of the situation
tndl Tue SGIN ICE liOuDleS GULL
planned of may be simply incident to
the change in operating force and if
SO, little time. and patience on the
part of the subscribers, and conditions
must of necessity return to the nor
mai.
All employers of labor are subject
to this embarrassment of change.
Your own business is not always kept
at the same standard of excellence.
simply ask that you accord to the
Company the intent to serve
the people we'll, to keep our service
at IA high standard of excellence and
to correct any defects in the service
which may exist.
| shall be in the Office of the Com
pany in Skowhegan all day Friday,
July 18th and shall be more than
pleased to meet any subscriber of the
Company who has a real complaint to