The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1894-09-01
THE PULLMAN STRIKE.
Progress Of the Congressional In
vestigation.
George N. Pullman Tells All About the
Profits of His Conccrn-Why He Re-
fused Arbitration-Debs Also
Testifies.
Pullman on the Strike.

CHICAGO, Aug. 2s.-George M. Pull
man was before the labor commission
for nearly three hours yesterday after
noon. In reply to queries by Chair
man Wright, Mr.. Pullman told of the
contracts for work undertaken by the
company ut a loss, in order that the
men might be kept at work.
Judge Worthington asked: "As to
this reported declaration of yours that
you had nothing to arbitrate, were you
correctly reported?"
II have already explained my views
on that subject"
Turning the subject. Judge Worth
ington brought out the fact the COM
panys original capital stock of $1,000
900 in 1867 had increased to $40, 900. 900;
that the company had paid dividends
Of l2 per cent. during the first two
years of its organization, 81 per cent.
during the next two years and 8 per
cent, annually since, and ut the same
time had accumulated a surplus
amounting to s95,OO0,0O He also
elected the statement that the stock
of the Pullman Land association
was entirely in the possession Of
the Pullman Palace Car Co, having
been acquired gradually by the invest
ment of the car company's surplus
earnings in the certificates Of the land
association. The original 500 acres on
which the town stands was acquired
by the car company on legal advice and
by the authority of its charter, which
gave it right to acquire land to the
amount needed in the business opera
tions of the company.
Coming back to the question of arbi-
tration, Mr.. Pullman said he remem-
bered no formal attempt to get him to
arbitrate with the men. lie had de-
clarcd his willingness to arbitrate.
1.-THE only question with me-" he said,
twas whether the shops at Pullman
should be closed or whether we should
put prices SO low as to command all
the work available in the country. 1t
was not the amount of loss, but the
principle involved that made me averse
to arbitration"
snow, Mr.. Pullman" said Commits.
sioner .Worthington, talking the whole
year through, has the Pullman Co.
made or lost money!"
at has made money" was the an.
swer.
"You have paid your regular divi
dends?"
"Yes, sir; 8 per cent"
THAT is something like 81, 500, ,O0t
you have paid out in dividends for the
year?"
"Yes, but that includes the lattel
part of the worlds fair season, which
was exceptional"
Let me ask you, Mr.. Pullman
whether you do not think company
that pays dividends of 81, SOC, 900 could
not afford to share the losses of it.
employees who have worked for it 81
long?"
THE manufac turing business is sep
arate from the business of the sleeping
car company. I see no reason why
should take the profits of the AGO
stockholders in the Pullman Sleepin,
Car Co. and pay men higher rate o
wages than was paid in other parts o
the country for the same work or thar
was paid by other companies fol
the same work. Because we hav
been careful and accumulated a sur
plus l do not see that it is reasol
why we should take the surplus nov
and pay it out for exceptionally higl
wages"
Has the Pullman company durinl
the years of its prosperity ever nd
vanced the wages of its employees vol
untarily?'
II do not know as to that. IL ha
always sought to pay fair wages, an
the fact that we have never had bu
one strike is pretty good evidence tina
the men have been satisfied"
what do you see that is objection
able in submitting a difference like thi
to arbitration?"
There are some matters that ar
proper subjects for arbitration. but
| cannot arbitrate on n question where
know the facts to be thus and so. Tn
| question as to whether our shop
should continue to be run at loss is
thing that could not be arbitrated."
"Why was it impossible?"
"Because it violates the principl
that man has right to manage hi
own business"
| Debs Testifes.
CHICAGO, Aug. a5.-President Debs, G
the American Railway union, was r,
called to-day by the strike commission
He stated that he did not favor con
pulsory arbitration in settlement G
labor troubles He did not believe tina
such a method would prove UNIVERSAL
satisfactory. lie said the statemen
that there were not more than &c