The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1894-08-31
PULLMAN'S FAIR TALE
THE MAoNArE ON THE STAND.
lie Details Hia Philanthropis Motives In
Reducing wasea.-The Company Max
Ing Money on Its Sleeping Car Busi-
hess, But Not on tho shops.-A MinIs-
ter Defends tho Company,

Chicago Aug. 27.--George Nj. Pull
man was before the labor commission
for nearly three hours this afternoon.
AT the outset of his testimony, Mr..
pullman made q careful preliminary
statement Of his position toward the
commission and defining the motives
which had moved the company I'd es-
tablish Its manufacturing plant ana
MONIES for workingmen rs 1t had. He
dwelt at length on the motive which
actuated the company In building
homes for the workingmen ut Pull
man, declaring that the town had been
made so that the best class of me-
chanics would prefer to live there
rather than In any other place In re-
ply to queries by Chairman 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. He said:
Il found we We're being ,inderbidlen
by other companies, even when we
had figured the work down TO cost
l undertook 10 make the Pullman
company's bids low, so rs TO secure tho
work for our men. My recollection is
that the first order of that kind was
Tor forty-fve cars on the Long Island
railroad. Under my instructions the
cost or material and lnbor was figured
on the basis OF a reduction In wages.
Ihen had the matter under cOnsid-
Grafton here and New York for about
Two weeks, and finally put In d bid
ior something between $500 and $500
car below actual cost. / mude nm
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 $500 In mr.
suing this policy. explained this Der.
Sonally to the men when they were
having their conference with Mr..
Wickes, Mr., Heathcotc said they
wanted the wages of 1893. I said il
would be most unfortunate thing for
all OF you If the wages of 1903 were re.
stored, because there Is not more than
SIX weeks work In the shop now, and
we would be unable to get more on n
basis of the wages of 1888"
Here Mr.. Herman asked. Were the
books shown to the men,
No. they were not because the men
ala not apply to see them, and the
"'iihe CttLie fTluuy.
There were other grievances. Were
there not:"
There were, but Mr.. wickes and
MI Brown had promised the men to
oike them up and remedy them whcr.
ever there was just cause for com
plant
Turning the subject. Judge Worth.
ington brought out the fact that the
company's original capital stock of 81. |
100000 In 1867 had increased to S3G.
100000: that the company had paid
dividends of II per cent during the |
irst two years of its organization. ~, |
per cent. during the next two years
ana per cent annually since. and at !
the same time had accumulated "A sur.
plus amounting to S25.O00,O0O
lettering 10 the stock OF the com.
pany, Mr.. Pullman said 1t represented
actual cash paid by the stock holders.
as me capital was needed. and the |
capital stock was increased for tile L.
sltiinate business OF the company. !
There was no water in II, and none of |
II represented dividends.
Now. Mr.. Pullman" said Commits
sioher Wortllington. taking the whole |
year through, has the Pullman com.
pany made or lost money!"
ut has made money, was the an
swcr.
dends:'
Yes. sir: S per cent"
That Is something like So.sno. 900
you have paid out In dividends for the
year,
Yes. 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 Il company
that pays dividends of S2,sOO.OOO could
not afford To share the losses Of its
employees who have worked for II sn
long.''
THE manufacturing business is sep.
nrate from the business OF the sleep.
ING car company. ! see no reason why
! should take The profits of 400 stock
holders In the Pullman Sleeping Car
company ana pay men higher rate of
wages than was paid In other parts of
the country for the same work. or
than was paid 10y other companies for
the same work
Has the Pullman company during
the years OF It's prosperity ever mi. !
vanccd the wages OF It's employees vol. I
untarllyi'
Il do not know as To that. II has
always sought 10 pay fair wages"
What do you sec that Is oblcctionn. /
BILE III submitting a difference like this
10 arbitration"
There are some matters that arc
proper subjects for arbitration. bur 1 !
cannot nrbiirat" on n question where
! know the facts TO be thus and SO |
The question as to whether our shop.
should continue TO run mt u loss Il n |
thing that could not be arbiirated."
why was II impossibley"
Because II violates the princiule 1
that n man has right TO manage his |
own business"
Suppose the arbitrutors We're TO say
10 you. we see you're losing. but these
men have been with you long while.
you can afford To shar. their los,,rs. |
we think you should NJ least pay living
wages, what would you say TO that"
MY point NJ the time was 10 work
with the men aud secure the JIsburse.
ment OF the large sums involved in tho
contracts ana los" money FOR the com.
pany " the men would asrcc 10 bear
Their share In reduction Of ~ 10 ~
per cent In their wages
Judge Worthlngton wanted 10 know
Wh'rcih u was wrong To take the
money OF the stockholders and pay
higher wages when the management
was ready To take contracts nj loss,
ar take the stockholders money Ia keen
the plant going, Mr., Pullman says Tho
execution of the contracts Mt n loss
was better for the plan, than To let Il
lie Idle.
so" interrupted Mr.. Herman. "you
had that In View Ms well a- the employ.
'n'nt OF III" mem Son lii not want 10
stop the plant because you knew tina,
would ID" loss 10 Stockholders. and
YOU dld net want Ia scatter your mon
b'rniis" you knew II would b. difficult
L" n"i u fore. together ngnln ,hnt