The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-04-17
PHONE STRIKE SPREADS.
Continued from Page IT,

the executives of the council feel as
sured they will act in accordance with
the other affiliated locals.
Delegates from the % men S unions
outside of Boston reported that their
men have decided not to report for
work. In consequence of Ibis report a |
committee from the joint council wait
led upon General Manager William R.
Driver, jr, of the New England Tele-
phone company yesterday morning at
II O'Clock and served an ultimatum
upon him to the effect that the com
bincd membership of all the affiliated
men S locals would not report for work
this morning
In a siatemen: gwen OUT in Wash
ington yesterday after conference
with Secretary Tumulty, Mr. Burleson
declared that the postofIice department
was no. free to grant wage increases
which would have to be paid for by
j the public without carefully inquir-
| ing into the relations between revenues
and expenditures of the company. He
promised, however, that if the Increases
were found to be 'tjust and reason
able they would be granted, even if
the charges to the public had to be adj
vanced.
Mr.. Burleson S statement follows:
"'The issue involved in the strike of
the telephone operators in New Eng
land is by no means confined to the sim
pde question of whether the employees
are entitled to higher wages. The peo-
pie of New England, now suffering so
seriously from the loss of service, even
tually must determine whether they
: are willing to pay more for such serv-
! ice in the future than they have in the
, past.
1.-THE postofiice department. whose
first responsibility is to the public, does
not feel free to grant wage increases
! which must be paid for by the public
+ which use the service without carefully
inquiring into the relation between re
venues and expenditures. If the cx,
penditures are increased beyond the
A point where the revenues no longeI
yield fair return upon the Investment
? either the efficiency OF the service must
: be lowered or the charges to the public
must be increased
r In the public interest ordinary bus
T mess caution must be observed.
5 {" During the period of govcrnmen
management the postofiice department
: feels that it cannot grant wage in
c creases merely upon demand from tn
y employees. A strike on the part of tn
employees working for the government
- is not permissible. Sound public opin
= ion can always be depended upon to 5,
" cure for them absolute Justice 1t mus
always be kept in mind that a strik
as cannot be successful without public az
t proval. The employees should reali7
! ! that the public interest is involved an
II should return to work at once upon ii
assurance that their demands will /
carefully investigated to determir
whether increased wages can be gran
g cd without impairment of the finances
stability of the companies
y elf the increases they ask prove
u" be lust and reasonable, the increas
~ will be granted in any event, ev'
n though, in order to continue cfficiel
on service, the charges to the public mu
Fe be increased. But the public intere
cannot be sacrificed upon the mere 4
: mand Of any set of employees.
''If the employees will submit the
demands to the general manager, al
return to work, they have the ASST
ancc of the government that they W
J be dealt with fairly. If they eontin
TO disregard the public interest, {
public will be less likely to give t
employees the support necessary to ";
rant favorable government action