Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-02-28

York. City. Second, the Occurrences Of 4
fife, IN which the delay in getting word
over tho telephone concerning it's out
break resulted in serious losS u life. Al
least so declared an Official Of the fire
department, although the telephone com
Pany, IN series Of advertisements in the
local newspapers, protested that this was
not true. Last, but not least, came the
company's calm assumption Of censorsbip
Of messages during the recent "fu" cpl
dernic when it was short Of operators. At
this time it announced that it, operators
were instructed 20 listen 70 the pubIic'-
conversation and TO cut IL off in favor N
other calls whenever they considered il
| necessary. This censorship, experience
shows, IL still going on, although the com
pany holds out the hope that IL will not
have 10 be continued as permanent
thing
In exctlsing this, ~ we'll a. other atroci-
tic. OF its service, the telephone company
calls attention TO the tremendous size Of
the city and the huge equipment needed for
ITS system OF communication. ~ az
knowlcdges that it's present equipment is
entirely Inadequate 70 handle New York's
10000 calls a day. but it cannot get any
more under present conditions. IT admits,
" tfAht ~ hhT ttpt FVibfffht Bi'@thtbA8g
out pleads the excuse that H. could not
foresee such tremendous increase in
business increase which IL could very
well get along without. Finally, il places
the entire blame for ineffciency upon tho
war and the regime Of the postmaster
general, which, il claims, injured its
facilities. This, 10 swears, IL a fact, In
spite Of the pubiic's claim that the tele-
phone service in New York City during the
war, while not as good as before, was ten
times more efficient than ii il now.
It's telephone operators arc well paid,
the company asserts, sl5 week being the
minimum wage, which is paid during a
week of schooling, and this is increased 10 |
s254JIa week after six years Of service. |
Recently, il has been paying q FIVE dollar |
bonus 20 each employe who succeeds in \
bringing IN new telephone operator re-
crIit.
OPERATORS WELL PAID.
The report Of the Public Service Com
mission, which IL largely responsible for
this popular uprising against the tele-
phone department, quotes the same wages,
but u says II Is to be regretted that the
company did not establish this standard
sooner. While a small increase in pay
ruins into Millions comments the report,
"the commission cannot but be impressed
with che thought that the company has
cherished too dearly it, policy Of fixed
annual dividend Of eight per cent 20 it's
stockholders, and that under the present
exigencies IL should, IL necessary, be willing
20 forcgo 10 some extent this
return In order 20 reconstruct
IFS service :"
One of the interesting features Of the
IL the fact that the Public
Service Commission making this report
e the upstate commission, having a
Statewide Jurisdiction over telephones,
the down-State commission is
To look after utility affairs in the
.ity Of New York. In other words, the
state is leading the fight for the improve
nent Of the city's telephone service, and
Tot the city itself. II has taken New York.
rs at least two weeks after the publishing
# the report, 20 become fully aroused.
Now, az last, the indications for a city :
ebellion against its excruciating tele-
,hone service appear most encouraging TO
he out-of-town visitor, but the old-.lrn-
rs are dubious. When questioned ga 20
he outcome Of the controversy, they re-
,ly with cynical shrlg:
ooh, it'll all blow over" said one such.
essirnistically, the other day, as be hung
p his telephone receiver with the usual
eaten expression. New York can't stay
lad. After q while, everybody will get
red Of the dispute, and settle down 20
ait for some outside force to come along
nd change things, Just as they waited for
ne sun and rain 70 wipe away the recent
lizard. In my opinion, there's little
spe Of better telephone service here
ntil the wireless phone is perfected, and
e can all carry our private telephone .
round IN our pockets