The herald., 1894-08-19
PULLMAN COMPANY'S TYRANNY,
Employees Treated Worse Thar
Slaves.
Wages Reduced to the Verge of
Starvation.
Exorbitant Rents Charged for the
Oompany's Houses-Mors Tssti-
mony Before the Strike
Commission.

By the Associated Press
CHICAGO, Aug. 18.-Chairman Heath
cote of the Pullman strike committee
was recalled by the strike commission
ers today. He related instances of what
he considered the company's tyranny.
He said one workman was struck in the
face by another, and when he attempted
to prosecute his assailant, he was told
to drop the proceedings or ne would be
discharged. Witness said about 400C
men struck at Pullman. Each paid 81
to the A. r. U.
Mary Abbott Wood, Q woman striker,
testified that the wages paid by the
Pullman company were insufficient for
the bare necessities OF life.
II received 81 q day" she said, "snd
paid $17.10 per month for one OF the
cempany's houses"
]. B. Pierson, resident OF Pullman,
was examined "a to the relative price Of
the rents. He stated that the Pullman
oompany's houses averaged from one
third to one-half higher than similar
houses in the surrounding suburbs.
Pierson said that in the resident dis
triet the Pullman rents had been mate.
rally reduced lately, but that no reduc-
tion had been made In the manufsetur-
ing town.
Mise Jane Adams, superintendent Of
the Hull-house charitable work and q
member Of the board of oonciliation Of
the Civic Federation, was the next wit.
ness. She said that during her investi-
cations of the strike she had found the
strikers always ready to arbitrate, but
that the Pullman officials did not ap-
pear to make any effort to settle the
trouble. Miss Adams also said that
rents in Pullman were higher than else.
where.
F. 2. Mcdonald, a Chicago Great
Western engineer, said that his employ.
ers sometimes compelled him to remain
on continuous duty from 50 to ~ hours
without rest. He told of the black
listing of his fellow workmsn and gave
long account of the strike ON his road.
II am opposed to strikes in genera" "
said Mr.. Mcdonald, but when the fed
ersl government will do nothing for us
and we have no weapons but the strike,
we must use it. II it were not for strikes
the railroad men in this country would
be working for half the pay they are now
getting"
Mcdonald told it was impossible for
him to obtain employment after she
Burlington rike when he was black
listed. The Oompany's influence was
used against him, he said, even to the
extent Of protesting to Governor Francis
OF Missouri against McDonald's appoint
ment as oil inspector at St. Joseph, Mo.
Replying to Commissioner Herman,
Mcdonald aaid he knew of no case where
apstalnIug from violence themselves, In
stigated it on the part OF others.
O. B. 81. Clair, q railroad man. q
former employee Of the Chicago, Mil
wnukee and st. Paul, came next and
testified that he took no active part in
the strike before he had been laid off
from work. Before the strike was de-
clared he wes member OF che A. r. u.
He applied for work to the Chicago
Milwaukee and st. Paul road when the
strike was over. but was told that he
would never be employed again on that
system and would not be recommended
to any other road. He had been unable
to get employment on any other road
because Of this blacklistine.
The committee adjourned until Mon
dsy.