The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-11-13
Review OF the Troubles at PsIIman
General Managers Association
FINDINGS AND SUGGESTIONS
CREATION OF A PERMANENT STRIKE
COMMISSION RECOMMENDED.
Also n System Of Cancellation and Ar.
Observation-Disclosures Urged to Rec
ognixe Labor Organizations.

CHICAGO, Nov. 12-The United States
government report on the great railway
strike in connection with the Pullman
trouble was made public to-day The re-
port, which is signed by the federal Labor
Commissioners. Carroll ID. Wright. and his
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. John u. Herman, OF
New York. and Nicholas e. worthington.
of Illinois, is addressed to President Cleve-
land. and abounds in passages which viii
attract wide attention. particularly the por-
ton referring to the now famous General
Managers Association" the organization
of high railway officials that encompassed
the memorable defeat OF the American
Railway Union.
The report says the capitalization OF the
twenty-four railroads directly represented
in the General Managers Association was
S21OS 552,617. The number OF employees was
,097. The commission continues: This
voluntary unincorporated association was
formed in 1856. In it's constitution the OBJ
ject OF the association is stated TO be the
consideration of problems OF management
arising from the operation Of railroads
terminating or centering at Chicago IL
further provides that all funds needed
shall be raised by assessment divided
equally among the members There are no
limitations as to consideration OF prob
lens or funds except the will OF the man
ayers and the resources of the RAILROAD cor
porations. Until June, 1894, the associa-
tions possibilities as a strike fighter and
wage arbiter lay rather dormant Its roads
fixed Chicago scale for switchmen, COW
ering all lines at Chicago. In March. 1898.
the switchmen demanded more pay from
each road. The association concluded that
they were paid enough-if anything, toe
much. The roads informed rhe men.
The Switchmen's Mutual Aid Association
of North America wrote to Mr.. st John
as chairman, acquiescing. He. as chairman
Of the General Managers Association, con-
Guided his reply as follows: The sssocis-
ton approves the course taken by your
body and desires to deal fairly with all en-
ployes and believes that our switchmen are
receiving due consideration
COMBINE AGAINST EMPLOYEES.
This seems TO show the report says.
''that employees upon association roads are
treated as under subsection to the Gen.
eral Managers Association" and the re-
| port. after detailing the action or the
socation in establishing agencies and en-
| ploy.ng men. adds: This was the first
| time when men upon each line were
| brought sharply face to face with the fact
| that in questions as to wages. rules ETC..
II
| combined railroads. This association like
| wise prepared for its elaborate sched-
| ules of the wages paid upon the entire lines
| of its twenty-four members. The proposed
object OF the schedules TO let each
/ road know what other roads paid Finding
creases 20 correspond with wages paid else
/ where a committee OF the association pre-
ali ali m Membership % roads. It was deemed wise
| not TO act upon the report TX was dis
| tributed to members in November, 1888.
| TO be used with efficiency as an equalizer
AS the result, during lss3-it being then
an incident of the General Managers AS
| ISOLATION TO assist each road in case or
trouble over such matters, one form or
| assistance being for the association to Sc
| cure men enough through its agencies 10
| take the places OF all strikers-reductions
roads. the tendency and effort apparently
being TO equalize the pay on all lines. IL
is admitted that the action of the associa-
| tion has great weight with outside lines.
| and thus tends TO establish one uniform
scale throughout the country. The further
into Chicago to membership would certain
ly have the effect OF combining all rail-
roads In wage contentious against all en-
'irhe commission questions whether any
legal authority statutory or otherwise. can
| the association which have come TO light
in this investigation III we regard its pTac-
| tical workings rather fnan It's professions. as
| expressed in it's constitution, the general
| managers association has no more standing
llaw than the old trunk lines pool: IL
cannot incorporate, because railroad char
ters do not authorize roads 10 form cor
porations or associations; TO fix rates for SER
vices and wages, nor TO force their ac-
usurpation of power not granted. IL such
an association is necessary from busi-
ness or economic standpoint, fhe right 10
form and maintain IL must come from the
State that granted its charter In theory.
corporations are limited 10 the powers
ence. We Rsi do not think the pSwer bas been
granted in either way In this case. The as
s an aey sn % o. dne ~
overreach their limitations and 20 .isurp
indirectly powers and rights not con;em-
from the people or their legislatures.
IAN extension OF this association as above
suggested, and the proposed legaliza;ion of
OF power and capital dangerous TO the peo-
pie and their liberties as well 5s 10 en-
| ployes and their rights. The question would
then certainly arise as TO which shall control
the government or the railroads. and the
end end would inevitably De government owner,
that IL implies. the government must re-
| strain corporations within the law. and pre-
gerous combinations. AT least 80 long as
| railroads thus permitted to combine
,S NIX Taee @ sn aha nis1e ~ 9o1hs & %
OF all laoor upon railroads to unite fos
| similar purposes.
ssIt should be noted that until the rail-
roads set the example a general union OF
| railroad employees never attempted
The unions had not gone beyond enlistne
the men upon different systems In separate
| trade organizations. These neutralze and
| check each other TO some extent. ard have
| no such scope or capacity for good or evil
| as is possible under the universal combina-
| ton ideas inauguarted by the railroads nd
| followed by the American Railway Union
The refusal OF the general managers asso.
| citation TO recognize and deal with such 4
| combination OF labor as the American Rail
way Union seems arrogant and absurd
when we consider its standing before the
| law, its assumptions and its pass and OBJ
| viously contemplated future action"