New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-29
COUNTING UP THE COST.
LOSSES SUFFERED BY THE RAILROADS
IN THE RECENT STRIKE.
GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT sULITvANs sUGGEs-
TION-vICE- PRESIDENT WICKEs, OF THE
PULLMAN COMPANY BEFORE THE Ma
TIONAL LABOR COMMISSION.


TIoNAL LABOR COMMISSION.
Chicago. Aug. 2s.-The session Of the National
Labor Commission to-day was chiefly interesting
because of the testimony of General Superintendent
A. w. Sullivan, of the Illinois Central Railroad.
who related the history OF the strike on that road
Among the fifteen Witnesses examined during the
day General Nelson a. Miles, who denied say
ing THE backbone OF the strike Is broken" when
he returned to Chicago TO take command OF the
Federal troops ordered to do duty in connection
with the strike.
At this mornings session Chairman Wright an
nounced that he had requested the different rail-
roads centring In Chicago TO file statements or
losses caused by the recent strike The gross loss
on the Alton was estimated at s2s6.2o The amount
OF damage to the Lake Shore was put at S5l6i.
The loss in earnings not given not having yet
been compiled General Manager James Whitman,
Of the Chicago and Northwestern. put the loss to
that road at S726a. General Superintendent F.. +.
Broughton. OF the Chicago and Eastern Illinois,
filed a statement showing the loss Of the road dur
ing the strike be 20 per cent Of the receipts dur
ing ordinary year.
General Superin ;endent John n Besler, OF the
Chicago; Burlington and Quincy road, declared the
property loss 10 be $4,000
Vice President Wickes Of the Pullman Company
then took the stand He was croSs-questioned by
Chairman Wright.
Mr. Wickes said the company lost &1.ro In trying
contributed labor worth $4,000. He thought. per
hans az II has turned out the better business pol
,cv Of the company would have been to grant the
demands Of the men, but there was principe IN
volved which he did not think could be ignored
II the demands had been granted there might have
been trouble In future years
Don't YOU think It would be good plan 10 In
creese the wages OF the men IN prosperous years
In other words to regulate the wages by the amount
~ business done By the employers!
mo: | do not think the plan would WORK well
7, uoud have a tendency to spshod business
methods We go into the market for our men
lust as we do for materials. II Is all regulated py
the law OF supply and demand
"Vbv were not rents reduced when wages were
cut?" 49,
The question Of rents was an entirely dli'eren'
one from the question OF wages Oniy ABOUT "h'
| third of our employees lived In Pullman. We coui'
| not have reduced any rents for the majority WI"
| lived outside There is connection between inc
Pullman Car Works and the town OF Pullman. Ihe
men don't have to live In Pullman unless they wish
| They can move out without prejudice on the part
U" Ivan dort recognize that there any questions
| IN regard TO wages that can be properly "'''
= do not, think all companies know what wages
'hey yySai Sa ia Your p5cy as TO unions" asked Mir.
KeT2an.a sWs dom, recognize the men as members of
DO you think the men would would haTg "n 'a tn"@
| "if they are not able 70 plead ther own cause
| II is their own misfortune" 49,, ,.
You don't think then. that The men have any
right to organize for redress OF griry@n,'sh So ,,,rs
| NO sir: II they don't want 10 wofk Al ur ~.
we offer they have the privilege OF gong sohe""'''
| else ,.. c,,,,t,a, NJ tho Illinois
| Central was examined at ength with special f'i-
| ercncc 20 the cause OF the suIkr g., on i, wa, ,b
| which was designated by inc FIVs,re" rhts va,
tinted states for special nyesiigaton ms p WI
wav Mon He said 359s men quit w"rk nuI"b ~ ~
strike but only 1880 OF thein ", we, ,h sirTkeTs
in Sm,,ivan could only mention two cases o as
sarit on men by strikers ca, ahu & aonr .rci - -
arrests Of strikers All OF the 49, go ~, ,h aci,,
| o,,, york we're taken back ana ~ oi tne n a,t''
ptit I.o,lnp 80 strikers who had Deci perm L
nenrlv dismissed from the service 'i tn oD,iai''s %
| 'rhe gross loss the road by the h"lh' was '
timatea "a, rod YOU remedy this state Of things"
as.rh .frh rcredy is very simple. said the oiilc,ai
.r, ia "a make every .abor orSalZi Ioh re- @ @
~ - ~ of its members. The unions are INV
.h oiv ,rresDonsibe so far as tner acts vi inv q" "
| ~ their members are concerned. ,,r,a an ON
Mr sullivan asserted lhas ,,c enS a contract wa,
poye o and deplored the fact that In this case tn'
road had no recourse. while i,f va h rpiad 70 IA,
| Ire contract with the men II cou'u w ' " ''
py y, nu ,bp mean time" said Mr. sullivan tne Is %
%, tbe railroads is fixed facti Even Yen W'''iI VI Ios,' m
troubles evsTs sTs dsy sens think the labor unions w9u
| hn a good thing II they were ar ul.u si,'o f"r IN.
their leaders and were MADE reSp''''''' '''
| acts" 1919. ,her, respon sIblc In law" saic
MI ,iy suggest the necessity OF H. don ih, hnr
| the license system has any aon auVa'.'s'' "''
any reaI ~ Johnson counsel for the Ch!caso am am
- ro,d submitted statement sio s - ., ril.
nn ~, that road to be Nl53lo on account - ~