The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-12
WILL NOT CONFER.
Mr.. Pullman Refuses TO Arbllrate
Nin His Employees.
Says He Has Sold Cars For $500
Less Than Actual Cost.


correspondent, in reference to the big
strike ana the attitude Of the Pullman
Company in the matter. He spoke
freely and without reserve. He had
spent the fourth of July at his desk,
facing the ocean, receiving callers and
answering letters and telegrams re-
garding the situation.
Briefly, he holds to the opinion that
there can be no arbitration OF this
great issue, for the simple reason that
there is nothing upon which to aibi'
trate.
Notwithstanding the vast amount Of
worry and cate to which Mr.. Pullman
has been subject recently, he still
preserves his customary calmness and
evenness OF temper. In giving his
views on the present trouble. he spoke
carefully and with a consideration fol-
the welfare of his old employees that
was plainly evident.
"No one more than myself regrets
this unfortunate strike he said as he
leaned back in his chair. "The Pull
man difficulty, separately regarded
no longer figures prominently in this
fight Of the new American Railway
Union against the railroad companies
"The question, to my mind, has re
solved itself to this Shall the rail
roads be permitted to manage, or saal
they turn it over into the hands O.
Debs, Howard and the American
Railway Union?
'The Pullman Company could no
settle the strike now il it would. 1t II
now in other hands.
II think the sympathy of the intelli
gent American public is with the rail
roads in this unjust attack.
"What would especially like t.
make clear, however, is the position o
the Pullman Company. When th'
financial depression began last yea
we were employing in Pullman abou
5,S16 men and paying out in wage
about $305 900 mouth.
"The average earnings Of all the EN-
ployes were something over 5000 |
year, including all classes. The de
posits In the Pullman Savings Banl
amounted to $sSS,OOO. That was il
June, 1898. A large percentage, nine
tenths Of that money, represented tin
savings Of the Pullman employees.
1.-THE manufacturing department 0
the company like many other simila
institutions all over the country, fel
the effects Of the vast business depres
sion. | frresaw that II the wolk
we're to be kept running it would b,
necessary for the company to max,
saci fees and for the men to meet tn,
situation by accepting lower salarie
for tn ir work.
"Understand, that year previou
we had turned out great many cars
as had other car companies, to NEE
the exceptionally heavy worlds iai
traffic.
"When the strike was inaugurate,
on May IL, over $4,000 had beer
Withdrawn from the savings bank.
| tThe Pullman service is not a mo
nopoly, but rather great co operative
institution During the financial de
preston we ran our works with re
duced force OF 1000 men. The saving
bank deposits fell off to $470, 900. w
| shortly aiterward, ON obtaining ney
contracts, increased our force to 400
men, and the deposits--mind you
under the reducing scale, which the.
now want raised 20 per cent, Will
the price Of cars is about 25 per cent
lower than it has been for two years
went up to $4Ss,OOO.
aAfterthe fair closed these cars wer
no longer needed, and, Of course, yer
few new ones were ordered. This cor
dition OF affairs was fully explained q
the time piece-work prices were revised
, "To show you how the car mar
uGacturing industry was affected b
! the business depression, and to max
clear what the Pullman Company di
in order to keep its employees at worl
/ will cite one instance-not the onl
one, either, that | could name.
"The Long leland Railroad Con
. pany was about to make a contract e
fifty Eve passenger cars. Every buil'
er OF consequence ~ the countr
made q bid for it. I had the estimate
. fer construction carefully made on
and then put In my bid at $500 lei
|. per car than the actual cost Of col
struction. ! obtained the contrac
Other companies had figured on Il
same basis, and my nearest compel
!, tor was onlv $24 higher.
"There is an impression that Il
Pullman company,aa aproperty own
is bound to get back its money fro
its employees as tenauts. This is n
60. Rents and other living expens
Z. are very low in Pullman, None Of Il
employees need live there unless th'
wish to.
"In fact, many OF them live in t
neighboring towns Of Kensingts
4 Roseland and Gano.
@The story Of the origin of Il
strike has been pretty fully told, hs
: the workmen demanded the old raj
on May s how 1t was again explain