Evening star., 1919-04-17
PHONE STRIKE MAY
co TO WAR BOARD
P. o. Department Determin-
ed to Start New England
Wires Again.
BURLESON'S STATEMENT

An appeal to the War Labor Board
to settle the questions at issue be-
tween the striking telephone operators
in New England and the Post Office
Department, which has control of the
wires, may be the solution of the
present deadlock, it was intimated in
official quarters today. The striking
operators. according to reports re-
ceived here. persist in their refusal to
deal with the Post Office Department,
and have replied to Secretary Tumul-
tvs telegram suggesting that they
submit their grievances to the general
manager of the telephone company
who in turn will submit them to the
Post Office authorities for final ap-
proval. that such a plan would not be
acceptable.
1t was pointed out today that other
departments of the government have
called upon the War Labor Board to
settle controversies over wages and
hours in recent months.
President May Be Called On.
While no statement was made re-
gardins such a step at the White
unlikely that if the strike in New
England of telephone operators and
eiectr1cal workers continues Presi-
dent Wilson may be asked to use his
good offices to untangle the difficult
ties which have arisen.
John c. koons, first assistant post
master general, who is in charge of
the department under which the tele-
phone strike is handled. has not gone
to Boston, as was stated in telegrams
n ho Sfril nd
has no intention of going.
P. o. Department Determined.
The Post Office Department is de-
termined to put the telephone service
In commission just as soon as posi-
Bile, and will spare no effort that it
can properly take in persuading the
operators to go back to work. Mr..
koons said.
The Post ofice Department recos-
nizes threefold obligation as gov
ernmental operator Of the telephone
to protect the prop
erty; second. to give efficient service
to the communities. and third. to deal
fairly and justly with the strikers.
most of whom are girlsI and young
women.
Postmaster General Burleson is pre-
pairing to issue a statement this aft
ernoon just as soon as he has had a
report from the local representatives!
in Boston Of the telephone service and
the Post Office Department
Mr.. Koons pointed out today that
the department is at a loss to know
how it can settle the matter, because
1t has not yet learned that any de-
either regarding rate Of pay
or working hours have been made by
the strikers.
Urged Strikers to Return.
Postmaster General Burleson and
the settlement Of the New England
telephone strike yesterday when they
urged the strikers to return to work
and submit their de-
mands Tor a higher wage scale and
recognition of the right Of collective
to the general manager OF
the New En- gland Telephone and Tele-
graph Company.
The operators were assured by both
the Postmaster General and Secretary
Tumulty that their application would
be acted upon promptly after its sub
to the general manager of the
company. who has been authorised to
accept any proposed agreement and
recommend its adoption by the wire
operating board.
Mr.. Burleson's Statement.
IN statement given out last night,
after q conference with Secretary
rumulty. Mr.. Burleson declared that
the Post Ofhce Department was not
free to grant wage increases. which
would have to be paid for by the pub
lie. without carefully inQuiring into
the relation between revenues and ex-
penditures" of the company.
He promised, however. that IL the
increases were found to be Just and
they would be granted
even II the charges to the public had
to be advanced.
Mr.. Burleson warned the strikers
that unless they returned to work at
once the people of New England, now
suffering SO seriously from the loss
OF service" would turn against them
and would be less likely to give the
employers the support necessary to
tion.''
Bring Relief;
ns>l.>I N...-I