The herald., 1894-11-13

eral Managers association has no NOR
standing in law than the old trunk lin
pool. 1t cannot incorporate, because
railroad charters do not authorize rosd
TO form corporations or associations t,
fix rates FOR services or wages, nor t,
force ell acceptance, nor to battle with
strikers. 1t ia usurpstion of power no
granted. II such an association is neces
sary, from a business or economic stand
point. the right to form and maintain il
must come from the state which granted
its charter. In theory. corporations are
limited to the powers granted, eithc
directly or by clear inference. We d.
not think the power has been granted in
either way in this case.
"The association is an illustration o.
the persistent and ehrewdly disguised
plan of corpors tions to overreach theil
limitations and to usurp indirectly
powers and rights not contemplated in
their charters and not obtsinsbe from
the people or their legislatures. An ex.
tension OF this association as above sug'
gested and the proposed legalization o
pooling would result in an aggregation
of power and capital dangerous 70 the
people and their Liberties as we'll as to
their employees and rights.
WHICH SHALL RULE?
"The question would then certainly
srise as to which shall control, the gov
eminent or the railroads, and the end
would inevitably be government owner
chip. Unlese resiy for that result and
ell that it implies, the government must
restrain corporations within ths law
and prevent them from forming unlaw-
full and dangerous combinations. At
least, so long as railroads are thus per.
mitted to combine TO fix wages and for
their Joint protection, it would be rank
injustice to deny the right of all labor
upon railroads to unite for similar pur-
poses.
AN ARROGANT ASSUMPTION.
sit should be noted that until the
railroads set the example. the great
union OF railroad employees was never
attempted. The unions had not gone
beyond enlistipg the men upon different
systems in separate trade organizations.
These neutialize and check each other
to some extent and have no such scope
or capacity for good or evil as is possible
under the universal combination idea
inaugurated by the railroads and fol-
lowed by the American Railway union.
The refusal of the General Managers
association to recognize and deal with
such com bination of labor as the
American Railway union, seems arro-
CANT and absurd, when We consider it's
standing before the law, it's assumptions
and its past and obviously contemplated
future action"
THE PULLMAN COMPANY.
Taking up the subject of the Pullman
Palace Car company, the report says:
This is a corporation organized in
1867 with a capital OF 81 200, 900. 1t has
grown until its present paid up capital
ia $4,000 900. Its prosperity has en-
abled the company for over 20 years to
pay per cent quarterly dividends, and
in addition to lay up surplus of nearly
$25, 900, 900 of undivided profits"
THE TOWN OF PULLMAN.
Speaking of the town of Pullman, of
which the report ssys the company is
owner and landlord, the commission
says:
The principal church and its parson.
age are very attractive structures, but
often not occupied, because the rental
required is higher than any church go
ciety is willing to pay to obtain the gos-
pei privileges to be thereby secured. In
the Arcade is tasteful library of books,
carefully selected aud cared for by the
company. Three dollars per year is
charged for its use, and as many as 250
persons a year ont of 1000 to 5000 en-
ployees and residents, have at times, as
stated by the librarian in charge. evsiled
themselves of its opportunitle. 1t ia
possible that the air OF business strictly
maintained there as elsewhere, and
management, prevent more universal
and grateful acceptance of ite advantages
by employees. As rule, even Employees
prefer independence to paternalism in
euoh matters.
THE COMPANY DOCTOR.
"The company pays a physician and
surgeon by the year to furnish to in
jured employees necessary treatment
and drugs. 1t is also, however, a part
OF his employment to secure from the
injured party written statement as to
the cause of the injury, and it is hia
custom to urge the acceptance of any
offered settlement. II suit follows, the
doctor Is ueuslly q witness for the COM
pany, We have no evidence that the
doctor has ever abused his confidential
relation towards the injured employees,
but the syetem is admirably conceived
from business standpoint to secure aa
speedily as possible settlement OF claims
for damages upon terms offered by the
company, and to protect the company
from litigation and it's results.
VICIOUS SYSTEM.
"As result OF the Pullman system
and its growth. when the depression OF
1893 came, morally calling for mutual
concessions as to wages, rents, etc., we
find on the one side q very wealthy and
unyielding corporation, and upon the
other q multitude OF employees of COM
paratively excellent character and skill,
but without local attachments or any
interested responsibility in the town,
its business, tenements or surroundings
The conditions created at Pullman en-
able the management at all times to as
sert with great vigor its assumed right
TO hx wages and rent, absolutely, and to
repress that sort OF independence which
leads to labor organizations and their
attempts at mediation, arbitration of
strikes, etc.
"On the other hand it is an economic
principle generally recognized that the
shutting down of such plant and scat.
tering OF it's forces usually results in a
greater lose than that exhibited by the
continuance Of business. The Pullman
company could hardly shut down for
seven and half months at a cost and
less OF less than per cent upon it's
Al \