Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-08-30
PULLMAN TALKS.
The Sleeping Gar Magnate APP
pears Before the Commission.
REASONS FOR NOT ARBITRATING.
Pullman Says Han Has Right to Man.
&c His Own Business-Vice Presi-
dent Wiclxes Tells the Part
He Played.

y
noon. In reply to queries by Chair
man Wright, Mr.. Pullman told of the
contracts for work undertaken by the
company at loss, in order that the
men might be kept at work.
Judge Worthington asked: ''As to
this reported declaration of yours that
you had nothing to arbitrate, were you
correctly reported?''
Il have already explained my views
on that subject
Turning the subject, Judge Worth
ingtOn brought out the fact the COM
pany's original capital stock of $1,000
900 in 1867 had increased to 500, 900, 900;
that the company had paid dividends
of IL per cent. during the first two
years of its organization, 81 per cent.
during the next two years and per
cent, annually since, and at the same
time had accumulated a surplus
amounting to $50, 600, OO0 He also
ELECTED the statement that the stock
of the Pullman Land association
was entirely in the possession of
the Pullman Palace Car Co., having
been acquired gradually by the invest
1nent of the car company's surplus
earnings in the certificates of the land
association. The original 500 acres on
by the car company on legal advice and
by the authority of it's charter, which
gave it right to acquire land to the
amount needed in the business opera
tons of the company.
Referring to the stocks of the COM
pany, Mr.. Pullman said it represented
actual cash paid by the stockholders
as the capital was needed, and the
capital stock was increased for the
legitimate business of the company.
There was no water in it and none OF
it represented dividends.
Coming back to the question of arbi-
tration, Mr.. Pullman said he remem-
bered no formal attempt to get him to
arbitrate with the men. He had de-
clared his willingness to arbitrate.
THE only question with me- he said,
twas whether the shops at Pullman
should be closed or whether we should
put prices SO low as to command all
the work available in the country. 1t
was not the amount of loss, but the
principle involved that made me averse
to arbitration
''Now, Mr.. Pullman said Commits
sioner Worthington, taking the whole
year through, has the Pullman Co.
made or lost money!"
sit has made money!" was the an
swer.
'''You have paid your regular divi-
dends?'
Eyes, sir; per cent
''That is something like So, 500, 600
you have paid out in dividends for the
year?''
Eyes, but that includes the latter
part of the worlds fair season, which
was exceptional
Let me ask you, Mr.. Pullman,
whether you do not think company
that pays dividends of So, 500, 900 could
not afford to share the losses of it's
employees who have worked for it
long?''
1.-The manufacturing business is sep
arate from the business of the sleeping
car company. L see no reason why l
should take the profits of the 1900
stockholders in the Pullman Sleeping
Car Co. and pay men a higher rate of
wages than was paid in other parts of
the country for the same work or than
was paid by other companies for
the. same work. Because we ha &c
been careful and accumulated sur
plus I do not see that it is a reason
why we should take the surplus now
and pay it out for exceptionally high
wages"
HAS the Pullman company during
the years of its prosperity ever ad-
vanced the wages of its employees vol
untarily?"
II do not know as to that. 1t has
always sought to pay fair wages, and
the fact that we have never had but
one strike is pretty good evidence that
the men have been satisfied"
s'What do you see that is objection
able in submitting difference like this
to arbitration?"
There are some matters that are
proper subjects for arbitration, but 1
cannot arbitrate on question where /
know the facts to be thus and SO. The
question as to whether our shops
should continue to be run at loss is
thing that could not be arbitrated."
.Why was it impossible?"
because it violates the principle
that a man has right to manage his
own business"
After Mr.. Pullman was excused Vice
President WiclSes called. He rehearsed
the history of the strike and the part
he PLAYED in it. He said the discharge
of the members of the grievance COM
1nittee after he had promised that they
should not be molested for the part in
the committees work was altogether
without his knowledge and was not in
territorial on the part of the minor 9TH
,cials who laid them off. In support OF