The Helena independent., 1894-11-14
Reci.sd by tho National Strike Com
mmission Appointed by
the President
Conclusion OF This High Authority
That Pullman Conditions
Are Dangerous
The CommIssloB Cicsss with Some Rec
onfmen endatiuns Worthy OF Most
Careful study.

Jcct of the Pullman Palace Car com
pRny. the report ~ the strike commits
sion appointed by President Cleveland
says: This is corporation organized
IN tSc7 with a capital Of sL0O00OO. II
has GROWN until It's present paid ar
capital is SS6.ooo.OOO. It's prosperity has
enabled the company for over twenty
years to pay Two per cont quarterly div
idrnda and IN addition 20 lay M sur
plus OF nearly $4,000, 900 OF undivided
profits"
Speaking of the town of Pullman, OF
which thc report says the company is
owner and landlord, the commission
says: 1.-THE principal church and IFS
parsonage are very attractive struct-
ures. hut often are not occupied be
cause the rental required Is higher than
amy church society is willing 10 pay 10
obtain the gospel privileges 10 be there
hy secured, ln the arcade Is q tasteful
library OF books carefully selected and
cared for by the company, Three dol
lars per year Is charged Tor its use,
and as many as go persons d year cut
OF l,O00 10 5000 employees aud residents
have nj times, as stated by the llbrar-
ian in charge, avalled Themselves OF
Its opportunities; a is possible that the
air OF business is rs strictly maintained
there as elsewhere and their exclusion
from any part In its management pre-
vents more universal and grateful ac-
ceptance Of its advantages by employees,
As rule even employees prefer inde-
pendence 10 patornalism IA such mat
ters.
THE company pays n physician and
surgeon By the year To furnish 10 In
1urcd employees necessary treatment
and drugs N Is. however. also part o.
his employment u secure from the in
Jired party q written statement as 10
the cause Of injury and IL is his Gus
tom 10 urge the acceptance ~ any Of
fered settlement IL suit follows the
doctor Is usually witness or the COM
pany We have no evldenc" that the
doctor has ever abused his confidential
rela lion toward injured employees, but
the system IL admirably conceived
from business standpoint TO secure as
speedily rs possible the settlement of
the claims for damage done upon the
terms offered by the company and to
protect the company from litigation
and its results.
"As a result NJ the Pullman system
and It's growth. when the depression OF
1893 came, morally calling for mutual
concessions as to wages. rent etc, we
find on one side very wealthy and un-
yielding corporation on the other a
multitude OF employees of comparative
excellent character nnG skill but with
out local attachments on any Interested
responsibility in the town, its business,
tenements, or surroundings. The condl-
tions created at Pullman enable the
management at all times TO assert
with great vigor its assumed right 10
fix wages and rent absolutely, and 10
repress that sort Of Independence which
leads to labor organizations and their
attempts at mediation, arbitration Of
strikes, etc.
"On the other hand II Is an economic
principle generally recognized that the
shutting down OF such "A plant and the
scattering of its forces usually results
IN greater loss than exhibited by the
cOntlnuances OF business The Pullman
company could hardly shut down for
seven ana a half months at cost and
loss Of less than one per cent upon it's
capital and surplus. To continue run
ming was for its obvious and unfair ad-
vantage so long as IL could divide the
losses equally with its labor. The men
nj Pullman claim the company during
1898 and 1894 set their pay through eX-
perts 50 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 II simply readjusted the prices of
piece work TO suit the necessities OF the
times.
Some witnesses swear that at
times, for work done in Two wceltl,
they received in checks from four cents
20 81 over and above their rent The
company has not produced Its checks
In rebuttRl, During AN this reduction
nnd its attendant suffering none OF the
salaries pt officers. manugers or super
intendents We're reduced Reductions
in those would not have been severely
felt. would have shown good faith
would have relieved the harshness ol
the situation and evinced genuine sym
phthy with the labOrer In the disasters
Of the times.
"ln It's statements 20 the public
which are In evidence. the company
represents that its object in all II did
was to continue operations for the ben
eft NJ its workingmCn and Of the trades
people I'm and about Pullman, and tc
sHyc the public from the annoyance OF
Interrupted travel The commission
thinks sthccvidenoe shows that it sought
10 keep running mainly for itA own
benefit as manufacturer; that its
plant might not rust. that ils Cumpptl'
tors might not invade its territory. ihut
81 might keep rs cars ln repair that u
might be- rcaiy foT resumption wbDI
huslnoss revived, with % i've pllrt ul'
ooNYrtrnt n"lp and that iiH revenue
frlr ltF THurmonia might continue. II
W. uycludr tno aesthetic ANA sanitary
from 90 90 - per cont higher than rent.
IN Chicago 0r surrounding towns i"i
similar accommodations.
"Thc company claim That workmor
cnn live elsewhere NJ they choose is mol
entirely t.uull'. Epar ~ losing wlrh
kpnps thrm in Pullman as long ns there
Hrc teHomonts uu7reupird, because th'
company is supposed Js q matter 0'
businusH, lo give preferences to Scr ton
ants when work lF slack While rodur
iug wages Tho company made no roduu'
tion I'm rents It's position iH that IN,
two mgttrw arc distinct and That non,
Of the rolsOna urged ps iustlfying 81
wage reduction by 10 0s AN employer
oun he considered by tho company az
lanlictd.
"1hn rnm.nnY claims Il is simply
Legitimate business tu use its position
nud rcaourcea 10 hire lnbor in the mar
hot MS chcaply as possible, and at th,
same time keep rrnts MP regardless 81
what wagon are paid 10 its tenants; tt
avail bsolf 10 the full extent " the busi
ness depression and competition iu m,
reduction ~ wages gaa 10 dlsrogar'
th0se samo conditions us t0 rents. n,
valid reason Is assigned fpr this posi-
ton except simply that The compan,
had rownr and the legal right to do u
The reductions at Pullman after Sept
1898. were tho result Of conference
anon. Uir managers, the employees ~
ihc arrt tmO knew Of them whom the,
took Cffcct.
"Tho purpose ~ the management wa
obviously o. rest the Who'll" matter upol
the costs, etc, In itg most srrlnusl
cripplCG department. excluding frpu
consideration the facts az ~ waECa Il
the repair department.