The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-28
His Efforts to Provide Work for the En-
ployes and Other Events Connected
with the Strike Related.
MIR. WICKES ALSO TESTIFIES
And CorrObOrates the Statements
Of His Superior Officer.
Banker Bryant Tells How Rents We're
Paid-New Car Works to Be
Started in Kansas.

CHICAGO. Aug. 27.-George NJ. Pullman
was before the labor commission for nearly
three hours this afternoon. Vice President
Wickes, who followed his superior, occu-
pied two hours and will appear again. At
the outset of his testimony Mr.. Pullman
made a careful preliminary statement of
his position toward the commission and de-
filming the motives which had moved the
company TO establish it's manufacturing
plant and homes for workingmen as it
had. He dwelt at great length on the mo-
tives which actuated the company build
ing houses for the workingmen at Pullman,
declaring that the town had been made at
~tractive. so that the best class of mechan-
les would prefer to live there, rather than
in any other place.
In answer to queries by Chairman
Wright, Mr.. Pullman told Of the contracts
for work undertaken by the company at a
loss in order that the men might be kept
at work. He said: II found we were being
underbid by other companies, even where
we had figured the work down to cost. |
undertook to make the Pullman Company's
bids lower than any other in order to Sc
cure the work for our men. My recollection
is that the first order of that kind was for
ffty-five cars on the Long Island railroad.
Under my Instructions the cost of
material and labor was figured on
the cars on the basis of the re-
duction in wages. Then / had the
matter under consideration here and in
New York for about two weeks, and finally
put In a bid for something between $500
and $500 a car below actual cost. L made
up my mind that the company would con-
tribute that much rather than have the
men idle. Up to the time of the strike we
had lost more than $4,000 in pursuit of this
policy. 1 explained this personally to the
men when they were having their confer
nee with Mr.. Wickes. Mr.. Heathcote
said they wanted the wages of 1893. 1 said:
1t would be a most unfortunate thing for
all of you If the wages of 1899 were re-
stored. because there is not more than six
weeks work in the shops now, and we
would be unable to get more on a basis
Of the wages of 1881"
SOME LEADING QUESTIONS.
Here Mr.. Herman interrupted to know if
the company had not promised to discharge
none of the ommitt that waited on Mr..
Wickes and whether the promise had been
kept. Mr.. Pullman said he did not know,
but Mr.. Wickes would tell.
Mr.. Herman then asked: Were the
books shown to the men?"
mo, they were not, because the men did
not apply to see them. and the strike came
Friday"
There were other grievancey, were there
not2'
There were, but Mr.. wickes and Mr..
Brown had promised the men to take them
up and remedy them wherever there was
Just cause for complaint"
Judge worthington asked: LAS to this
reported declaration of yours that you had
nothing to arbitrate. were you correctly re-
ported?"
Il have already explained my views on
that subject"
Turning the subject, Judge Worthington
brought out the fact that the company's
original capita stock OF 81, 900 600 in 1867
had increased to SO. OO0.000 that the COM
pany had paid dividends of u per cent.
during the first two years of it's organiza-
ton, 92 per cent. during the next two
years and s per cent. annually since. and
at the same time had accumulated a sur
plus amounting to S25.OO0.0OO. He also
eIiSited the statement that the stock of the
Pullman Land Association was entirely in
the possession OF the Pullman Palace Car
Company. having been acquired gradually
surplus earnings i'm the certificates of the
land association. The original 500 acres on
which the town stands was acquired by the
authority OF its charter, which gave il
right 10 acquire land TO the amount needed
in the business operations of the company.
Referring to the stock Oh the company,
NJ. Pullman said it. represented actual
tal was needed. and the capital stock was
increased for the legitimate business of the
company. There was no water i'm IT ana
Coming back TO the question of arbltra-
tor. MIR. Pullman said he remembered no
formal form the ATTEMPT @gn7 H to b ssf d hi% 60 S STf TiI te
ingness 10 arbitrate. '"rhe only question
with me-" he said, was whether the shops
we should put prices so low as TO COM
mcnd all the work available i'm the coun-
the principal involved that made me IeS sve pse
to arbitration.
BIG DIVIDENDS.
Now, Mr.. Pullman" said Commissioner
Worthington, taking the whole year
through. has the Pullman company made
or lost money!"
ut has made money" was the answer.
"You have paid your regular dividends?''
Eyes. sir; s per cent"
That is something like s~2.SOO.C0O you have
paid out in dividends for the year?"
Yes: but that includes the latter part
Of the worlds fair season, which was ex-
ceptional."
you do not think a company that pays divi-
dends of s.. SEQ. 000 could not afford to share
tle losses OF It's employees who have worked
1.-THE manufacturing business is separate
frT591mT !h Sr 6u P5 2 { of re shH sdIeeping sec ear no com Tsn-
son why | should take the profits Of the
400 stockholders in the Pullman Sleeping
Car Company and pay men ii 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 have been ca 'eful and accumu-