The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-07-14
PULLMAN AT LAST
Says There is Absolutely Moth
ing to Arbitrate.
BRADsTREET ON THE STRIKE.
A Triple Murder in Nevada--Pren-
dergast Hangs--Wiman Out
Again.
BRADsTREET ON THE STRIKE
Associated Press.

New York, July 13.-George M. Pull
man has issued lengthy statement OF
the attitude of his company, in refer
ence to the strike, its cause, its merits,
and its settlement: He does not declare
definitely toward submitting to arbitra-
ton, but urges that 1t would be unbus-
inesslike to concede to arbitration which
might decide that the Pullman works
be operated at loss
Little more than a year ago the shops
at Pullman were in a prosperous condi-
ton; work was plenty, and wages were
high. Our pay rolls for that year show
average earnings of over 5000 per an
mum for every person, man, woman, or
youth on the roll. Then came the great
panic and depression of last summer.
Our force was reduced from 6,OOO to
1000 in November, 1893, and the only
hone of getting orders was by bidding
for work at prices as low or lower than
could be done by other shops, and this,
OF course, necsssitatcd a reduction in
wages of the employees at Pullman. Most
of the important work on hand mad
been taken in competition at prices
which were less than actual cost TO
the company delivering, without any
reckoning for USE of capital and plant.
This work was taken to keep the large
force of men employed. In the early
part Of May a committee of employees
demanded restoration of the wages
of a year ago. / explained to this COM
mitee minutely and laboriously the
facts, showing that the company was
already paying them more than It was
receiving for their contract work. Un>,
der the excitement of their recruiting
into the new organization, the workmen
closed the shops, thus themselves doing
what l was strenuously trying to pre-,
vent being DONE and the employees who
have quit their work have deprived
themselves and their comrades Of the
earnings of more than 100000 up to
this time. Arbitration implies acquies-,
ence in the decision Of arbitration,
where favorable or adverse. How could
1, as president of the Pullman company,
consent to agree that If any body Of
men not concerned with the interests
of the company's shareholders should,
as arbitrators, for any reasons seeming
good to them, so decree, that l should
open the shops, employ workmen at
wages gre ater than their work could be
settled for, and continue this ruinous
policy indefinitely, or because of breach
of faith? Who will deny that such
question is plainly not subject of
arbitration? The public should not per-
nit the real question which has been
before it to be obscured, That question
was positively the creation and duration
of dictatorship which could make all in
dustries Of the United States and daily
comfort of millions dependent upon
the, hostages for the granting of any
fanatic whim of such dictator. The
charge is that the rents are exorbitant,
and 1t is implied that the Pullman em-
ployes have no choice but to submit.
The answer is simple. The average
rental of tenements at Pullman is at
the rate Of 50 per room per month, and
the renting of houses at Pullman has
no relation to work in the shops. The
employees may, and very many do, own
or rent their own houses outside of
town -