Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-11-23
Labor Commission Reports Oh
the Pullman Troubles.
POOLING IS DANGEROUS.
Their Statistics Show that the We st
ern abor Troubles Resulted In
the Loss of an Enormous sum
to the Employers and En-
plOyeS.


the labor commission appointed by President
Cleveland to investigate the strike OF last
summer. Il says in part:
The troubles OF the Illinois Central and the
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific compani S
we're the ones investigated. According to
the testimony the railroads lost IN property
de.troyed hire Of United States deputy mar
shals, and other cidental expenses at least
1855. 3O8. The loss OF earnings OF these
roads is estimated at S4,672, ,9l6. Some 3, 100
employees at Pullman lost in wages as esti-
mated at least $3.50 OOO About 100000 en-
loyees upon the twenty-four roads center
ing at Chicago. all Of which were more or
less Involved in the strike, lost in wages, as
estimated at least 81, 3s9, 149. Many OF these
employees are still adrift and losing wages.
TIE commission says OF the Pullman Pal
ace Car Company: For the year ending
July 1. 1898, the dividends were $3.50. 900.
and the wages ST 223, 1851. For the year
rnding July l, 1894. the dividends were ST.
$50, 900, and the wages. S4,47l, 701S9
"As the re suit OF the Pullman system and
its growth when the depression OF 1923 came
morally calling for mutual concessions as to
wages. rents &C.. we flnd on the one side
very wea thy and unyielding corporation and
| upon the other multitude OF employees OF
comparatively 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 en-
abled the management at all times TO assert
with great vigor its assumed right to fix
wages and rents absolutely and to ex; ress
the sort OF independence which leads t.
abor organizations and their attempts t
mediation. arbitration, strikes, &C.
In speaking OF the general managers asso'
citation OF railway companies. the commission
SAYS ''The association is an illustration OF
the persistent and shrewIly devised plans oi
| corporations 10 overreash their limitations
and to usurp indirectly powers and rights
l not contemplated in their charters aud not
obtainable from the people Or their legisla'
lures"
1t further says that the legalizing Of this
pooling would result ia an aggregation OF
power and capital dangerous to the people
and their liberties, as we'll as to employees
and their rights. The question wouil then
certainly arise as to which should control.the
government or the railroads. ana the end
would inevitably be government owenrship.
Unless ready for that result and gil that it
turtles, the government must restrain cor
porations within The Jaw. and prevent them
from forming unaw.uI and dangerous COM
binatons. At least, 50 long as railroads are
thus permitted to combine to fix wages alJ
for their joint protection, it world be rank
Injustice 20 deny the right Of all labor upon
railroads to unite for similar purposes.
In conclusion the commission recommends:
1. That thero be a permanent United
States Strike Commission OF three members;
with dntie, aud powers Of investigation and
recommendation rs 10 disputes between rail-
WAYS and their employees similar to those
vested in the Interstate Commerce Commis'
son as to rates, DE-.
power be given to tho United States Courts
to compel railroads to obey the decisions ol
the commission after summary hearing, IN
attended by technicaities, and that no de-
laws in obeyin the de ,i:ions of the commis-
sion be allowed pending an appeal.
(b) That whenever tho parties to con;ro-
versy in matter within the jurisdiction oil
the commission are one or more railroads on
one side and one or moro national trade
unions incorporated under chapter 56I OF the
United States Statutes of 1885, or under
State statutes, upon tho Other, each side
shall have the right to select representative
who shall be appointed by the President TO
serve as temporary member OF the commits
sion in hearing, adjusting and determining
that particular controversy.
(c) That during the pendency OF pro-
ceedng before the commission lnaugura'eu
by national trade union or by any lncorpol"-
ion of employes. it shall not be lawful Tor
he railroads to discharge employees pelong-
ing thereto except for neficiency, VIOLATION
Of law or neglect of duty; nor rsuch union9
or interpretations during such pendeney y
order unite in aid or abet strikes or boy
colts a:ainst the railroads compIa'heo U"
nor for period of six months after decis-
ion for such railroads to discharge any sucI
employe in whose place others snail To GIL
ploved except for the causes aforesaid; mol
for any such omploye for like periou II
quit the service without giving thirty days
written notice OF III. .ention to do so, nor ioi
any such union or corporation to order coun.
sci or advise otherwise.
5 That chapter SGT Of the United otate'
statutes OF 1885 be amended 50 as 10 IT,
quire national trade unions TO proViue III
their articles OF Incorporation and III 'hei
> constitution rules and bylaws that ulein"e'
shall cease to be such and forfeit all rlSnu
! and privileges conferred on him by III"
such by participating in or by lnslsa"n'
D force or violence against persons or proPei''
7 during strikes or boycotts or by seeking
\ prevent others from working through threa
S or intimidations; also, that members sn"" ~
e no more personally liable for corporate "c'
than are stockholders IN corporations.
The commission further recommends ina
0 Congress consider the establishment ol J.
i cense system by which all the higher en-
ployes or Others OF railroads engages IN III
terstate commerce should be licensed, a''e
due and proper examination.
The commission suggests the consideralo
by the States of the adoption OF somc system