Norwich bulletin., 1913-04-10
Concessions to
 The Operators
COMPANY WILL iN-
 CREASE WAGES.
AND READJUST HOURS
Proposal Is in Nature of Compromise Full Demands Are Promised Later Consideration by Officials.

| Boston, April 9.-The New England Telegraph and Telephone company to- l night offered to the executive commit l tee of Telephone Operators union z l proposition embracing concessions or | several points in answer to the unions | demands. This offer, which was made | during a series of conferences arrang- l ed by the Boston chamber of com l merce in an effort to avert the threat ened strike of telephone girls, was 1 made the basis of further conferences l which continued to a late haur. Concessions by Company. As first presented, the company's concessions are understood to have in- cluded the following:
 An increase in wages (the amount uncertain, but not equal to the de- mands, which averaged S1 a week. the establishment of S1-2 hours the maximum working day; the readjust- ment of the so-called split trick system. and the appointment of 9 board of three operators, to hear all complaints by operators and to report to the company officials.
 Later Consideration of Full Demands
 Much discussion followed the pres entation of these proposals. The op- orators committee, it was learned held out for entire abolition of the split trick,' while the company off cials would promise only a readjust-
 
 ditions, saving that without such an arrangement the company would be forced to employ many additional girls
 A promise of later consideration of the full wage demands is understood to have been laid out.
 A Midnight Conference.
 The company officials were headed by President Spalding. With him was U. N Bethe1l of New York, vice presi- dent of the Bell Telephone system, who came here today for the first time In connection with the present dispute.
 Just before midnight the executive board of the Electrical Workers un- ion which has voted to join in a strike with the girls, was called into the con- ference room.
 Union Walters to Be Called Out.
 There was a new element project cd into the situation late today, when the Walters union, Local 30, met and debated whether it's 750 members should serve food to the 1900 or 1,500 emergency operators'' whom the corn- pany has brought here from ether cit fes and who are regarded by the local hello girls" as strikbrealkers.
 The upshot of the meeting was decision to call out all union walters at hotels sheltering strike breakers in the event that the telephone opera tors declared a strike.
 Other Employees Also to Strike.
 Meetings were held also tonight by the linemen, cable sp1icers and other employees of the telephone company. who have promised to strike in sym pathy if the operators go out. Tho Telephone Operators union Is 8 local or the National Electrical Workers un- ion, and has the moral support of the Boston Central Labor union, which is considered one of the strongest labor organizations in the country.
 Visiting Girls Regard It as Lark.
 Copley Square and its vicinity were afiutter today with telephone girls ar irving from Pittsburg, Philadelphia and Baltimore. Most of them seem to regard the visit to Boston as lark, and are making the most of 1t. They are stopping at fashionable hotels in the Back Bay.