Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-11-13
ON THE BIG STRIKE.
Report of the Commission Ap-
pointed by Cleveland.
GENERAL MANAGERS CONDEMNED,
And the Prime Responsibility Laid
Upon Them and the Car Build
ing Corporation.

mand for the Wages of 1893, but tho
Railway Trouble Due to the Acts Of the
General Managers Association, Which Is
Declared Dangerous Body-Troops at
Chicago Justified-SympathiesO of Police
men-Railway Union Leaders Acquitted
Of Favoring Violence.
CHICAGO, Nov. 13.-The United States
government report on the great railway
strike in connection with the Pullman
trouble is made public. The report is
signed by the federal labor commissioner,
Carroll d. Wright, and his fellow investi-
gators, John d. Herman, of New York,
and Nicholas d. WorthinGton, of Illinois,
The report says the capitalization of the
twcnty-four railroads directly represented
in the General Managers association was
&, los, 552,6l7. The number of employees
was a2l.097. The commission contin-
nes: This voluntary, unincorporated asso-
citation was formed in 1856 In its consti-
tuition the object of the association is
stated to be the consideration of prob
lens OF management arising from the
operation of railroads terminating or cen
tering at Chicago. 1t further provides
that all funds needed shall be raised by
assessments divided equally among the
members There are no limitations as to
consideration of problems or funds
except the will of the managers and tie
resources of the railroad corporations.
General Managers and Switchmen.
"Until June, 1894, the associations posi-
bilities rs strike fighter and wage arbi-
%.,v- l..x- 81 Il
Chicago scale for switchmen covering
all lines at Chicago. In March, 1893, the
switchmen demanded more pay from each
road. The association concluded that
they were paid enough-if anything too
much. The roads SO informed the men,
The Switchmen's Mutual Aid association
of North America wrote to Mr.. ST. J Ohm
as chairman, acquiescing. He, rs chair
man of the General Managers associa-
ton, concluded his reply as follows:
The association approves the course
taken by your body and desires to deal
fairly with all employees and believes that
our switchmen are receiving due consiG-
Grafton
This seems to show the report says,
shat employees on association roads are
treated as under subiection 10 the Geu-
eIai Managcrs association.
Proposed a Uniform Schedule.
'.This was the first time when men upon
each line were brought sharply face to
face with the fact that in question sas to
wages, rules, ETC., each line was supported
by twenty-four combined railroads This
association likewise prepared for its use
elaborate schedules of the wages paid upon
the entire lines OF it's twenty four mem-
bers. The proposed object of these sched-
ules was to let each road know what other
roads paid. Finding that the men upon
some lines urged increase TO correspond
with wages paid elsewhere, a committee
of the association prepared and presented
a uniform schedule for all membership
roads. 1t was deemed wise not to act
upon the report. It was distributed to
members in November, 1893. This distri-
button alone enabled the report to be used
with efficiency as an equalizer
Combination Against the Employees.
'.As the result, during 1Sy3-it being then
well understood that as to wages, etc, it
was an incident of the General Managers
association to assist each road in case
of trouble over such matters, one form
of assistance being for the association to
secure men enough through its agencies
to take the places of all strikers-re-
ductions were here and there made on the
different roads, the tendency and effort
apparently being to equalize the pay on
all lines. 1t is admitted that the action of
the association has great weight with out
side lines. and this tends to establish one
uniform scale throughout the country
The further single step of admitting lines
not running into Chicago to membership
would certainly have the effect of COM
bining all railroads in wage contentious
against all employees thereon