The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-11-22

it's standing before the law, it's assump-
tons and its past and obviously con-
templated future action"
PULLMAN PALACE CAR COMPANY
How Great Corporation Thrivcs and
Grows Fat OFF Its Employees.
Taking up the subject of the Pullman
Palace Car Company, the report says:
This is corporation organized in 1867
with a capital of 81 100000 1t has grown
until its present paid up capital is 1885,,
100000. It's prosperity has enabled the
company for over 20 years to pay 2 per
cent. quarterly dividends and in ad
dition to lay up a surplus of nearly
s25, 900, 900 OF undivided profits"
Speaking Of the town of Pullman.
Of which the report says the company
Is owner and landlord, the commissioner
says: 1.-THE principal church and its
parsonage are very attractive struc-
lures, but often are not occupied because
the rental required is higher than any
church society is willing to pay to OBJ
tain gospel privileges to be thereby
secured. In the arcade Is a tasteful
library of books, carefully selected and
cared for by the company Three dol
lars per year is charged for its use
and as many as $50 persons a year out
Of 900 employees and residents have at
times, as stated by the librarian in
charge, awaited themselves of its op-
portunities 1t is possible that the air
Of business maintained there, as else
where, and their exclusion from any
part in its management. prevent more
universal and grateful acceptance of
it's advantages by the employees. AS
a rule even employees prefer indepen-
dence to paternalsm in such matters.
THE company pays a physician and
surgeon by the year to furnish to in
jured employees the necessary treatment
and drugs 1t is however, also a part
OF his employment to secure from the in
iured party written statement as to
the cause of the injury, and 1t is his
custom to urge the acceptance Of any
offered settlement. If a suit follows
the doctor Is usually a witness for the
company. We have no evidence that the
doctor ever abused his confidential rela-
tion towards injured employees, but the
system is admirably conceived from
business standpoint to secure as speedi-
ly as possible the settlement Of claims
for damages, upon terms offered hv
the comnanv eri tic protect the COM
: my from litigation and it's results.
COULD DICTATE ANYTHING.
"As a result of the Pullman system
and its growth, when the depression Of
1898 came, morally calling for mutual
concessions as to wages, rents. etc. we
find on one side very wealthy and un-
yielding corporation and upon the 9TH
er a multitude of employees of compare
lively excellent character and skill but
without local attachments or any inter-
ested responsibility in the town, its
business, tenements or surroundings.
The conditions created at Pullman
,nable the management at all times to
assert with great vigor It's assumed right
to fix the wages and rent, absolutely,
and to repress that sort of indepen-
dence which leads to labor organiza-
tons 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 scattering o.
its forces usually results III n greater
loss than that exhibited by the contin-
uance of business. The Pullman COM
| pany could hardly shut down for seven
| and one-half months at a cost and loss
| Of less than / per cent, upon its capital
and surplus. To continue running was
| for it's obvious and unfair advantage
| so long as 1t could divide the losses
equally with its labor.
| WAGES CUT UNJUSTLY.
1.-THE men at Pullman claim that the
| company during 1898 and 1894 set the
| pay through experts so that with their
| forced loss of time an average man
| could earn little more than the rent
| of his house. owned by the company
The company alleges that it simply
readjusted the prices of piece work tt
suit the necessities of the times.
Some witnesses swear that at times
for work done in two weeks, they re.
ceived in checks from cents to 81 over
and above their rent. The company
has not produced its checks in rebuttal
During all of this reduction and its
attendant suffering none of the salaries
Of officers, managers. or superintend-
ents We're reduced The reductions il
those would not have been so severely
felt; would have shown good faith
would have relieved the harshness OF
the situation, and evinced genuine sym
pathy with labor disasters of tn,
times"
In its statements to the public, which
are in evidence, the company repre-
sents that its object in all Il
has done, was to continu,
dence, the company represents that 1t.
operations for the benefit of it.
workingmen and of the tradespeopl.
in and about Pullman and to save tn,
public from the annoyance of interrupt
ed travel. The commission thinks tn,
evidence shows that 1t sought to keel
running mainly for its own benen
as n manufacturer: that its plant nigh
not rust; that its competitors nigh
not invade its territory; that II Nigh
keep its cars In repair; that 1t might b,
ready for resumption when bushes.
revived with live plant and competen
help, and its revenue from its tenement
might continue.
WHERE RESPONSIBILITY RESTS
Government to Blame for Failing to Pro
| feet ahor