New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-15
DEFENDING IT'S CHARTER.
GEORGE NJ. PULLMAN AUTHORIZES
STATEMENT FOR HIS COMPANY.
REPLY TO THREATS OF THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL
OF HLINOIs-To MAKE THIS TEST CASE

OF ILLINOIs-To MAKE THIS a TEST CASE
NO POSSIBLE LOSS To STOCKHOLDERS.
George NJ. Pullman. president of the Pulman's
Palace Car Company yesterday gave out the fol- |
lowing statement. prepared by the general coun-
sci Of the company. with regard to the threatened
attack Of the Attorney-Gen of Illinois on |
the charter Of the company:
The petition served upon by the Attorney !
General with notice that he would apply TO the /
court for leave upon the facts therein set out TO
file an Information in quo warranto proceeiiis,
charges the Pullman Company with the usurpatlon |
OF power In acquiring ana holding greater amount
OF real estate than 1t Is authorized TO do. and with
putting part Of 1t to certain uses IN nn"trrah'Ia
based upon misrepresentation. both OF the law ana
the facts.
tablishment OF "A large manufacturing plant i1r
h construction s Of it" cars ana cars bSn ST 'f n
that time some miles distant M from the Gy me
present town of Pullman That region at that
tlme was practically an unoccuped waste Thlrty-
the preparat ton of the site the erection of the
works and what was necessarily an incident
This involved, OF course the setting asdc oi ann
for streets II Involves Likewise the Construction
necessary to render It suitable for the existence OF
was the isolation OF the place that the workmcn
ENGAGED H. construction were Transported BACK SI
town was being built. Granted that the Idea Whirn
sugsesied hG constipation o; the p,nht en aa not
follow as necessary incident that whatever
might De essehsai 10 tne ne nno t b ompoyed
there would not be frowned upon by the laws OF
the State The question OF homes for the employees
was a vital one. and in considering it the manage
ment OF the company acted upon the theory that
WISE would act and react a. to yield better
results in the character OF the operatives theh- mem
selves as citizens and In the quality OF their PROF.
uct as worknen in which capacity they consu-
| tive business enterprise And so The company un,
dertook to provide for the comfort and heHlth 9f
net Of the best archiiecnra and sanitary ensi
neerng skill. and controlled as to insure lean
| and we'll l-paved streets. and as To exclude rum
| shops. gambling houses; and hrothes
legal wrong in Ievoilng liberal amount Of land
churches and school-h houses. for library and
theatre. it would seem that the hand OF The State
ought not to be raised in punishment nor strained
| construction Of the law be sought in order to
give 1t the character Of wrong doing.
| GOOD LEGAL ADVICE OBTAINED.
| I, should De said that before taking any steps
| toward the purchase Of This land the best legal
counsel available was sought and obtained as to the
righ' OF the company 20 purchase the lana IN pu"S-
don The provision OF the charter tnat I, should DE-
awful for the company hereby incorporaied 10
hc DEM, rccess,ry for the successful prosecution
oi their business fully considered in ine lsht
been g.vsn Al thri :me The pre.len; Of he com
pany was advised. in tho manner have stated nat
| he quantity u lanI which he purchased All the
Within thS pTohib,ion II me Jaw In perfect good
faith the enterprise was undertaken ani mas heen @
| carried out. The lana was b'1SAi W'th me pes
business jgigmen; which the compa4y coud com
4y5i; TO- ,he end. proposci Ther- mas been no
| buying or selling or iea.ns In laris outside OK the
cogtnne5 70 ,Se ob,ec, set on: in the charter
think IT may be added outside OF tn limitations per
ne Sasrer not merely % r as the rean esrpAnS
The petition Of the Attorney Genera! also sets out
| he a
| a part Of which only is devoted TO It's own bust
Th ha the the a pef of M company o he ac
Of the ownership Of the building !s of course, IN
a. p9s Snsfsed h i. Hst se' ani;pu ist S r s M
y; scr II ~ ore which this Company shares VIII
great number Of Other corporauons. II i j. true
convcnien,ly Situated for ts general Offices the
| business part u the city. and erect thereon a
and rent the surplus space IN the hnhdng Inn ihgn
a buld.ns of two or three stories in height, witch
would BE- absurd proposition. or !, coud not erect
cure by renng places suitable for II. general Once.
cannot believe IL 70 be the poicy Of the 1w 70
,ha, vo:ence I. done to the law or harm done %
m. pnoG ;6o sn Mr esRdss mbes Sat a'T p nut
/, should be kept In mind thai this proceeding
can direct .oss - the shareholders Of thr
company II 10y possibility +; ho.is property which
the supreme Cour; may say 4 was noi authorized
in one form or another. distributed 10 shareholders
ceel.ng would there be- any loss of property
THOROUGH TEST To BE MADE.
1t should also be clearly understood that there Is
not involved in this proceeding any charge Of fat.
| urc In any way whatever on the part Of the man
| agement of the Pullman Company to in fact FOR
| the best Interests Of the public. The claim made by
the Attorney General IL that II is technically ille
| gal for Illinois business corporation having
thousands Of employees In one locality to give them
| and their families assured opportunity 10 I've
out Of the immediate contact of disrepuabie
and tha thor ham h. hay fh.ir
service the best elements OF civilization. and not
least Of all to enjoy po6c oi ana @rn con
munity in the United States. The Pullman Com
ah r%ised TO test them thoroughly and il it shall he
considered 10y the highest tribunal of the state that
| any Of its present investments should be changed
or distributed to It's stockholders. smp.y to make
such change distribution. and TO operate Us
Sleeping "a heretofore. and 10 build cars ior
sale in surroundings Influenced for gooi by the
far as the cour, shall consider to be within its law
ful power
engage attention that ali these matters which are
the subject of the present attack have existed for
coincidence cannot fail to be remarked that all at
after SO long period ths present n9c,nre ,n % o
attack OF this character upon ms cGmpany
which is now assaied by the action OF the lay oii
OF the state Is not new enterprise ana dos
Years il has been carried with the same owner
ship Of and' with the same conditions as 70 houses
churches streets and schoolhOuses as 1t Is to-day
Its position In all these regards has been mater
OF general observation ana a matter Oh
| universal comment. In the same g2od 1altn III
| which IL was originally undertaken II mas been
prosecuted in al these years and Is being prose
| cuted now. II there has been any violation or thr
| law does IL not seem strange that with all this
light OF publicity thrown upon 1t, violation should
not have been discovered until now?
TRYING TO SOLVE THE STRIKE PROBLEM.
Chicago Aug 1.-THE Board OF National Labor
Commissioners will meet in the Federal bui'n'hs
Tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock to consider the
causes OF the recent strike and the best way 10
nrevent recurrence OF the labor troubles wnch
we're recently stirred up by the American Railway
Union. All OF the members OF the co'nliiIN9o''