Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-04-17
SQUARE DEAL PROMISED

SQUARE DEAL PROMISED
Washington. Apr: 1e-Steps to-
ward settlement Of the strike of
New England telephone operators
were taken today by Postmaster
General Burleson and Secretary Tu-
multy. Each official urged the
strikers to return to work immedi-
ately and submit their demands for
a higher wage scale and recognition
Of the right of collective bargaining
to the general manager Of the New
England Telephone and Telegraph
Company.
The operators were assured by
both the postmaster-general and
Secretary Tumulty that their appli-
cation would be acted upon promptly
after its submission to the general
manager of the company. who has
been authorized to accept and pro-
posed agreement and recommend its
adoption by the wire operating
board.
In . statement given out late to-
day after a conference with Secre-
tary Tumulty Mr.. Burleson de-
clared that the Post Office depart
ment was not free to grant wage in
creases which would have to be paid
for by the public without careful
ly inQuiring into the relation be-
tween revenues and expenditures"
Of the company. He promised, how
ever, that il the Increases were
found to be lust and reasonable"
they would be granted even if the
charges to the public had to be ad-
vanced.
Mr.. Burleson warned the strikers
that unless they returned to work at
once the people Of New England,
(, now suffering seriously from the
loss Of service" would turn against
them and would be 'Iess likely to
/, give the employees the support neces-
sary to warrant favorable govern
.. ment action. Mr.. BurIeson's state
ment follows:
1.-THE issue involved in the strike
Of the telephone operators in New
/: England is by no means confined to
the simple question Of whether the
employees are entitled to higher
. wages. The people Of New England,
now suffering seriously from the loss
OF service. eventually must deter
mine whether they are willing to
pay more for such service in the
future than they have in the past.
"The post office department, whose
L..
does not feel free to grant wage in
creases, which must be paid for by
the public which uses the service,
, without carefully inquiring into the
relation between revenues and ex.
) penditures. II the expenditures are
increased beyond the point where the
revenues no longer yield q fair re-
turn upon the investment either the
efficiency of the service must be low
cred. or else the charges to the pub
lie must be increased.
in the public interest. ordinary
business caution must be observed.
During the period of government
management. the post office depart
ment feels that 1t cannot grant wage
increases merely upon demand from
the employees. A strike on the part
Of employees working for the govern
ment Is not permissible. Sound public
opinion can always be depended upon
to secure for them absolute justice.
1t must always be kept in mind that
a strike cannot be successful with
out public approval. The employees
should realize that the public interest
is involved and should return to
work at once upon the assurance
that their demands will be carefully
investigated to determine whether in
creased wages can be granted with
out impairment Of the financial sta
bility of the companies.
III the increases they ask prove to
be just and reasonable the increases
will be granted in any event. even
though, in order to continue efficient
service. the charges to the public
must be increased. But the public in
terest cannot be sacrificed upon the
mere demand Of any set of employees.
If the employees will submit their
demands to the general manager. and
return to work. they have the assur-
ance of the government that they
will be dealt with fairly. If they con-
tinue to disregard the public interest.
the public will be less likely to give
the employees the support necessary
To warrant favorable government ac.