Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-02

l~m wages paid the operators"
l)-Mr. Newcomb Carlton, presi,
Ident of the Western Uni Telegraph
{ Company, testified as follows:
Il do not cite any of these things
as substitute for wages, bcause
there is no substitute for proper pay
II belyieveN that the telegraphers ar,
|.underp1 i'd"
1T is suggested that the Commits
sion recommend
/. The property of the telegraph
companies or such part of thei1
equipn' ent as ay be necessary for
1.-THE efficient operation of a National
telegraph system, should be purchas
led by the Federal Government after
proper valuation and placed under
the genral jurisdiction of the Post Of
lf're Department for operation. In
transferring the service to the Fed,
eral Governemnt all employees, in.
Guiding officials and other persons
/ necessary for successful operation
| should be retained, and those whom
the elimination of the duplicate ser.
vice of the two companies renders
unnecessary for the National system
should be absorbed into other
branches Of the Federal service ais
far as practicable
2. At the time of the transfer to
the Federal service a special commits.
sion should he appointed to revise
the salary ratings and other working
conditions and place them upon a
proper basis
ls...4 Telephone.
THE Investigations of the Commits
|sion are the. basis for the following
statements: ~
I. The condition Of the telephone
operators in both interstate and local
service is nb5ect to grave criticism.
The wages paid even in the cities
having the highest standards are in
su1nc1ent to provide decently for wo-
men who have no other means of
support. The requirements and nerv-
GUS strain incident to the service are
SO very severe that experienced phy-
slclans have testified that operators
should not work more than five hours
per day, whereas the regular work
ing hours are from seven to nine ner
Gay. TIE operators, who are prin-
cipaHy girls and young women. are
required to wor kat night, going to
and returning from their work at
hours that are subject to grave men
ace. The policy of the companies in
general provides for sanitary and
reasonably comfortable working
places, and for attention to the re,
creation and physical needs of the
operators, but in a number of cities
Hne conditions even in these respects
are subject to severe criticism.
z. Telephone operators are unable
70 secure reasonable conditions for
themselves, because of their youth
and the fact that hey ordinarily re.
main in the service only a. short
time 0''
g. The organization of EMPLOYEES
Tor their own protection is effectively
resisted by the employing companies.
= The American Telephone and
Telegraph Company. with it's snhsi-
ulaIy ana amliated corporations, con-
trois more than 70 per cent of the
totaI telephone business of the coun-
sry The American Telephone and
telegraph Company has been enornl-
ously profitable and is well able to af-
[ord the necessary improvements in
working conditions. The American
Telephone and Telegraph COMPANY
mas increased its capitalization
enormously without he investment of
new capital.
8. The transaction by which the
american Telephone and Telegraph
Company, which has been a subsi-