The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-08-28

CHICAGO, Aug. 2z.-Georse ". Pullman
was before the labor commission for nearly
three hours this afternoon. Nice-Presi-
dent Wickes occupied two hours, and VIII
appear again.
At the outset of his testimony. Mr.. Pull
man made careful preliminary statement
of his position toward the commission and
defining the motives which had moved the
company to establish its manufacturing
plant and homes for workingmen as 1t
had.
He dwels at great length on the motive
which actuated the company in building
homes for the workmen at Pullman, de-
claring that the town had been made so
that the best class of mechanics would
prefer to live there rather than any other
place In reply to queries by Chairman
Wright. Mr. Pullman told of the contracts
for work taken by the company at loss
In order that The men might be kept at
work He said:
SAID He BID UNDER ACTUAL COST.
AZ found we were being underbidden by
other companies, even where we had fig
ured the work down to cost. / undertook
10 make the Pullman company's bid lower
in order to secure the work tor my men.
NV recollection is that the first order of
That kind was for fifty-fVe cars on the
Long Island railroad. Under my instruc-
tions. the cost of material was figured on
the basis of reduction in wages. Then
had the matter under consideration here
and in New York for about two weeks, and
finally put in a bid for something
between $500 and $500 a car below
actual cost. | made up my mind
that the company would contribute that
much rather than have the men idle. Up
to the time of the strike we bad lost more
than $4,000 IN pursuing this pohcy. IeX-
piained this personally to the men when
they were having their conference with
Mr.. Wickes Heathcote said they wanted
the wages OF '93 said it would be most
unfortunate thing for all of you, If the
wages were restored, because there IS not
more that STA weeks work in the shop
now, and we would be unable TO get more
on a basis of the wages OF 1o93,"
THOSE BIG DECLARED DIVIDENDS.
Here Mr.. Herman asked: 'Were the
books shown to the men "
mo they were not; because the men did
not apply for them, and the strike came
Friday"
There were other grievances were there
not >"
There were, hut Mr. Wickes and Mr..
Brown had promised the men to take them
mp and remedy them wherever there was
Just cause Tor complaint"
Turning the subject, Judge Worthingtou
brought out the fact that the cOmpany's
original capital of s., coo, 900 in 1889 had in
creased to s., 600 000; that the company had
paid dividends of IL per cent during the
first two years of its organization, 80 per
cent during the next two years, and s per
I'll .-cF,, and 1rRna
lad accumulated surplus amounting to
R25,0000U0.
Referring to the stock of the company,
Mr.. Pullman said il presented actual
cash paid by the stockholders, as the cash
was needed and the capital stock was in
creased for the legitimate business OF the
company. There WAS no water In II and
uone of it represented dividends.
WHY he DIDN'T PAY THE WAGES.
Now. Mr. Pullman" said Commits
sioner Worthington, taking the whole
year through, has the Pullman company
made or lost money!:
1T has made money" was the answer.
You have paid yoUr regular dividends"
Yes sir. s per cent"
Something like s., 500, 900 you have paid
put for he year,"
Yes hut that includes the latter part
Of the worlds fair season, which was ex-
Ueptional."
let me ask you, Mr.. Pullman, whether
you do not think a company that pays div
idends of &. 500 000 couiG not afford to
square the losses oil its employees who have
worked for 1t so long?'
1.-The manufacturing business is sepRr-
ste from the business of the sleeping car
company. ] see no reason why / should
lEke the profits OF 200 stockholders in the
Pullman Sleeping Car company and pay
men higher rate of wages than was paid
In other parts of the country for the same
work or than was paid by other companies
Tor the same work"
Has the Pullman company, during the
Fears of its prosperity, ever advanced the
wages OF its employees voluntarilY|
y do not know as TO that. I have al
Ways thought TO pay fair wages"
DECLARES HE COULD NOT ARBITRATE.
DO you see an objection TO submitting
difference like this TO arbtrationt'
There are some matters that are proper
subjects for arbitration, but | cannot arbi-
rate on question where ! know the facts
% be thus and so. The question as to
whether our shops should continue TO run
At a loss j. thing that could not be ar
Sitrated."
"'W by was it impossible -
Because II violates the principles that
man has night to manage his own bust
ness"
gou, we see you are losing money. but
these men have been with you II long
while; you can afford to share their losses:
think you should at least pay living
wages what would you say to that ? "
My point at the time was 10 work with
he men and secure the disbursement OF
large sums involved in the contracts and
lose money for the company if the men
would agree 10 bear their share in a reduc-
lion OF 20 10 - per cent in wages"
Judge HorthIngJon wanted TO know IL
{ was not wrong TO take the money of
The stock holders and pay higher wages
when the homogeneous were ready TO
lake contracts az a loss and take the stock
holders money to keep the plants going.
PULISiAN'S SALARY NOT REDUCED.
Mr.. Pullman said contracts were better
II loss than 10 let il he idle
So interrupted Mr.. Worthingtou,
you had that view as well as the employ
k1ent Of the meh, you did uoU want 10
kcatrer your men because il would be diff
hcult 10 get a force together again that
would do economical work.
Yes
WAS your salary reduced, Mr. Pull
mani"
The witness replied il had not been,
Nor the salaries of superintendeuts or
foremenf''
No"
"Whyf"
Mr.. Pullman said it was rot good policy
cause men Of their calibre We're not easily
replaced.
Mr.. Pullman was then excused and
Vice President Wickes called. He re-
hearsed the story Of the strikes and the
part he played in them.