The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-17
By Associated Press

Boston, April Ib.-Leaders of the striking telephone op orators in New England ek pressed unwillingness tonight to accept plans for settlement of their grievances proposed by Postmaster General Burle- son and Joseph P. Humility, secretary to President Wilson h.
 Secretary Tumulty in a telegram tp- day to Miss Julia S O'Connor, presi- dent of the telephone operators depart- ment of the International Brotherho'd of Electrical Workers. urged the stri'S- CTS to return to work and to file their wage demands with w. R. Driver, Jt general manager of the New Englard Telephone and Telegraph company
 He said Mir Driver was authorized .o recommend to the government operat ing board any agreement just and fa.a to all parties concerned
 Replying tonight Miss O'Connor saAt
 
 Your proposition contained in l- days telegram is not fundamental lly different from the proposal of Mr. Burlcson. It states that we may dis- cuss, with MT. Driver general manasIr New England Telephonec ompany, cur contentious. Subsequently, he reach'NS | conclusion upon which he will a4- wise us. thence to be submitted to tAs operating board. At no step of th!s procedure could the methods you reH ommend be construed as collective bal gaining. We insist upo rDur right eo reach conclusion with MT Drivdr mutually agreeable to the unions and the company and do not recognize tho right of any other agency or individual to hold the power to repudiatc thds agreement.
 "Particularlv do we object to it's btI- ing submitted to a committee con5tI- tuted as is the operating committees it's entire personnel being composed If telephone and telegraph officials, gent erally believed to be opposed to the prirI- cipal of collective bargaining and indisl- putably opposed to wage increases fcr reasons readily understood. The com- mittee reterates that it stands ready | to bargain collectively with Mir. Driv,r upon assurance that he is empowerel | to reach settlement with us.' 1 MT. Burleson warned the strikers that unless they returned 10 work at once tHe people of New England "now suffering so seriously from the loss of serviee." ! would turn against them and would he Tess likely to give the employees tl1e support necessary to warrant favorable l government action" Mir. Burleson's state l irent follows:
 BURLESON'S STATEMENT
 The issue involved in the strike of the telephone operators in New Engianf is by no means confined to the simple question whether the employees are en,- titled to higher wages The people df New England, now suffering so seriously from the loss of service. eventually must determine whether they are willing tp pay more for such service in the future than they have in the past.
 The postoffice 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 uses the service, without carefully irauiring into the relation between reve- nues and expenditures. If the expendi+ lures are increased beyond the point where the revenues no longer yield b fair return upon the investment either the efficiency of the service must be lowered or else the charges to the public must be increased.
 Tn the public interest. ordinary busi- ness caution must be observed.
 "During the period of government mann agement. the postoffice department feels that it cannot grant wage increases mere- ly upon demand from the employees. A strike on the part of employees working for the government is not permissible. Sound public opinion can always be det pended upon to secure for them absolute, justice. It must always be kept in mntl that a strike cannot be successful with lou. public approval. The employees should realize that the public interest is inl ivolved and should return to work aE once upon the assurance that their de; mands will be carefully investigated td determine whether increased wages can be granted without impairment of tho financial stability of the companies. nv the increases they ask prove to be just and reasonable the increases will bf granted in any event, even though, in order to continue efficient service. thd charges to the public must be increasedI
 But the public interest cannot be sac rificed upon the mere demand Of any set of employees
 .'If the employees will submit their de- mands to the general manager, and re- turn to work, they have the assurance Of the government that they will be dealt twith fairly If they continue to disre-
 gard the public interest. the public will be less likely to give the employees the
 support necessary to warrant favorable
 government action.
 Fuel Old Bids Asked
 By Associated Press
 , l Washington, April l6.-Bids on S.fo,S i, barrels of fuel oil 10 be delivered during inc next 2 months to shipping board ves- ! scls at Boston. Philadelphia, Galvestoro C'rjstobai and Balboa. were asked today
 by the boards division of operations.