The Lamar register., 1894-11-17
THERAILWAY STRIKE
AN EXHAUSTIVE REVIEW.
The Government Com mission Reports to
Congress its Conclusions Upon the
Causes and the Responsibility for
Them

SUITES SONeTnnutut Teisrt oh ihe -AN.as
railway strike in connection with the
Pullman trouble was made public yes
terday. The report, which Is signed by
the federal labor commissioner. Car
roll ID. Wright, and his fellow invesu-
gators, John ID. Herman of New York
and Nicholas B. worthlngton Of ILL.,
nois, is addressed to Prest. Cleveland
and abounds in passages which will at
tract wide attention, particularly the
portion referring TO the now famous
General Managers association, the or
ganization OF high railway officials that
encompassed the memorable defeat OF
the American Railway union.
The commission questions whether
any legal authority, statutory or other
wise, can be found TO justify some of
the features of the association which
have come to light In this Investigation
IF we regard its practical workings
rather than its professions. as express
ed in it's constitution. the General Man
ayers association has no more standing
in law than the old trunk line pool IL
cannot Incorporate. because railroad
charters do not authorize roads TO
form corporations or associations TO nx
rates for services and wages, nor 70
force their acceptance. nor TO battle
with strikers Ii Is usurpation of pow
er not granted II such an association
is necessary from a business or econ
omic standpoint. the right to form
and maintain II must come from the
state that granted its charter. In the
ory, corporations are limited to the
powers granted either directly or by
clear inference. We do not think the
power has been granted in either way
in this case. The association Is an IL
lustration OF the persistent and shrewd-
ly disguised plan OF corporations To
over-reach their limitations and 10
ustnp indirectly powers and rights not
contemplated in their charters and not
obtainable from the people or their leg
islatures''
The report discusses at length the
conditions prevailing Mt Pullman. 1t
says:
.In its statements TO the public which
are in evidence. the company repre-
sents that its object in all II did wis
to continue operations for the benefit
OF its workmen and OF trades people in
and about Pullman. and to save the
public from annoyance of interrupted
travel The commission thinks the evil
dence shows that 1t sought to keep run
ming mainly fog its own benefit as Il
manufacturer. that its plant might
not rust. that Its competitors might
not invade its territory, that IL might
be ready for resumption when business
revived with live plant and compet-
ent help, and that its revenue from Its
tenements might continue. II we ex-
clude aesthetic and sanitary features
at Pullman, the rents there are from
20 to % per cent higher than rents In
Chicago or surrounding towns for sim
liar accommodations. The aesthetic
features are admired by visitors but
have little money value to employees,
especially when they lack bread. The
company makes all repairs and here
tofore has not compelled tenants to pay
for them. Under the printed leases
however. which tenants must sign. they
agree to pay for all repairs which are
either necessary Ordinary wear and
damages by the elements not exceptedl
or which the company chooses TO make
The company's claim that the work
men need not hire its tencments and
can live elsewhere IL they choose is not
entirely tenable. The fear OF losing
work keeps them in Pullman as long
as there are tenements unoccupied. be
ucase the company Is supposed as
matter of business to give preference to
its tenants when work is slack While
reducing wages the company made no
reduction in rents Its position Is that
the two matters are distinct and that
none of the reasons urged as justifying
wage reduction by 1t as an employer
can be considered by the company as q