Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-21

COuAAlAS6NVU AAAfAL
no agreement was reached yes
terday and to take action to
provide adequate service as
was agreed.
The telephone company con-
tnues to maintain the position
It has taken against arbitration
and refuses to deal with the
employees as a union.
Semi-autOmatic switchbOards
may be installed, officials of the
company say.
Settlement of the telephone
strike within the near future ap-
pears now, more than ever, a re-
mote possibility.
G. H. Rottger, state manager of
the company, and nine representa-
tives Of the employees, engaged in a
verbal battle for nearly four hours
at the Moline city hall yesterday
afternoon, and the dove of peace
remained far in the distance.
Propositions and counter-propo-
sitions were hurled back and forth
but the company representative
steadfastly refused to give an inch
III the ILL DOl LdIL lOouCg Hc5C5. 1 liz
conference was strictly private,
AMI the longer it lasted the more
confident became those waiting on
the outside that a satisfactory con-
clusion would be reached. Mayor
Skinner stuck close to his Office all
afternoon so as to be the first to
receive the happy verdict. Three
times he responded to inquiries
over his phone from officials of the
three cities with a CHEEKY, They're
still at it, but 1 guess it will be
settled soon"
When o'clock was reached the
conference ended. The manner Of
those attending indicated instantly
that there was apparent determine
ton never to end it. There is
chance that the discussions may
be renewed tomorrow as Mr.. ROtt-
ger will remain in Rock Island for
a few days. Linemen and operators
will probably meet this evening to
map out plans for future action.
Little hope for a compromise was
held out.
Mr.. Rottger was the only repre-
sentative of the company. James
Kennedy, H E. Nissen and J. F.
Brown talked for the Iinemen;
while Mrs. Rose Kinney, Mrs. Lena
Toher, Mrs. Martha Schlueter and
the Misses Judith Rosene, Nellie
McFalI and Bess Montgomery
spoke for the operators. One con-
cession was granted by the mem
bers of the committee; that is, they
entered into the conference, not as
union representatives but as the
spokesman of the employees. This
was their only chance to obtain
hearing, inasmuch as Mr.. Rottger
had refused to treat with them as Il
union.
No Offer on Wages.
The company official gave no in
dication that the operators would
be granted a wage increase. No
offer, however insignificant, was
advanced. Instead, Mr. Rottger
challenged the operators to pro-
duce evidence to show that any en-
ployer of girls in this community
not requiring a higher technical or
general education and preparation
pays as high d wage scale as the
telephone company. He stated that
the company had conducted such
an investigation for its own salts
faction and came to the conclusion
that its wage scale was above the
normal. Starting at 50 per week,
the wages increase steadily over a
period of six years until the maxi
mum of $3.50 for operators and
$3.50 for supervisors is reached.
There it stops even though the OPP
orators continue to grow old in the
service.
Denial of the representation that
the company ever made any over
lures to the operators to the effect
that if they would deal as individ-
uals the minimum wage of SIS per
week would be granted, was made
by Mr.. Rottger. He emphasized on
the company's oft repeated state
ment that no discrimination is
shown against its union employees.
He only specified that dealings
would not be held with a business
agent or other paid Representative
of the union, but with committee
from the employees instead.
When the session was ended, he
spoke to reporters concerning the
wage scale Of the linemen. He as
serted he could not understand III
what manner the linemen desired !
a readjustment Of wages. The
linemen retaliated by declaring
they couldn't understand the com !
pany's plan advanced in a counter
for a revision of the scale /
to conform to the Davenport stand
ard.
$50. Complicated Scale.
Linemen worked under a rather |
scale. Wages were !
paid on a graduated system to en- |
Oloyes in a score of various depart !
nents, all working under the gen !
eral term of linemen The lowest !
wage paid was $50 per month, this /
o the splicer's helper. Under the |
new proposal of the men he would /
De advanced to $40 per month. |
Iinemen rated as skilled received /
'117 per month before the strike. /
they ask $3.50 per month. The ;
owa scale is not approved here
because the men maintain that It