Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-08-29

CHICAGO, August 2S.-In the investi-
CATION OF the Pullman strike by the
National onmissIon to-day Chauneey
Kelsey, OF the Chicago snd Alton Rail
road, toek the witness chair and testi-
fed as to the losses sustained by that
road during the strike. Ho declared
that the total loss was $3.50, 800.
Then William MeMaddea, OF the Lake
Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad,
testified that the loss Op cars alone TO
that road was IS, l54.
Then Vica-President Wickes took the
staed. Questioned by Chairman Wright
he said that the cost 10 the company OF
building the ears under contract al the
time OF the strike was about 81, 400. 900.
The labor would cost about s2i0,0 900.
The contracts wers taken on a basis OF
reduction OF 90 per cent, and thus,
under the old prices, the labor would
cost about $4,000.
MR.. wIcREs ADMITTED
that on this basis the company had 70.
duced its receipts s52, 900 aud the em-
ployes' wages $50, 900. This, the Vlco
President said, looked hardly fair, but he
| thought It much better than TO throw
the men entirely out Of employment.
In answer 10 th9 chairman Mr..
Wickos said that the cut In pay had
been made 10 IL the depression In busl-
ness and the low selling price OF cars,
and not TO stop any encroachment on
the profits that were paid to thu stock
holders. The surplus OF S25, 600, 600 un-
divided profits consisted partly OF idle
cars whose value was constantly deteri-
Grating. The cost OF the cars was
counted In the surplus, but there was,
TO some extent, q fiction IN the hgures
OF the surplus.
He said that tho Worlds Fair in bis
opinion did not do his company any par
ticular good. The company spent Sf,-
500, 900 IN building new cars for fair
traffic, and the travel was not nearly 80
large as was expected. Hc thought
that tho fair work had something TO 90
With the cause OF the strike, :, Xhsl.
80 sasA We, over si.s pficss s.s down
TO bed rock and
THE MEN WE'RE DISSATISFIED.
he did not think that voluntary
division OF the profits In prosperous
times would be better than the present
system. IL would not be fair TO ths
stockholders TO so divide the profits
Mr.. Wickes said that the amount of
back rent due the company from strik-
ers was 500, 000 No eviction list had
been made, and there had been no orders
for eviction. Very little effort had been
made TO collect the back rent. He said
the company had contracts with the
roads TO run It's cars over about three
quarters Of all the mileage In the coun-
try. On tho territory covered by the
contracts the Pullman Company had n
monopoly.
Mr.. Wlokes denied that Pullman en-
ployes were ompelled 10 rent the COM
papy's dwellings. He said he did not
believe that the principle OF arbitration
could be applied TO man In the opera
ton Of his own business. A matter OF
opinion was available to arbitration.
but not the matter Of a man running
his own business. The witness was
questioned as 10 the salaries paid tho
company's officers, but declined 10
answer.
GENERAL NELSON A. MILLS
took the stand when the commission
met after luncheon. He denied the
story that, on bis arrival hero from
Washington, he had at once consulted
the general managers On July 2,when
this conference was said 10 have taken
place. be was In WashinEton, and he ar
rived here on July 4. Asked II II was
true shat be had declared he had broken
the backbone OF the strike, the General
said this WAS not quite sTact What be
said was that be mad broken the back
bone Of the opposition 10 the federal
troops.
The Commissloners wanted TO know
n the troops forced railroad men 10
work at the point Of the bayonet Cen.
Miles said that while this might have
happened In some instances he had not
been aware OF IL and had lssned 90
orders 70 that effect lie ssld he knew
nothing about the strike.
General Superintendent Sullivan, OF
the Illinois Central, declared many
strikers had committed violence. and
backed up his assertions with Tangible
nj