Griggs courier., 1894-08-24

differences just ss it does not interfere in dis
putes between one road and another.
There was volley Of hand clapping ~ Mr..
Howard finished. The commission decided,
however, that the matters he referred to were
not germane to the Investigation.
E. w. Bemis associate professor Of political
economy in the University of Chicago, ap-
peared as q Witness Arbitration. he said,
seems to have worked we'll in the settlement
Of disputes in private industries in Massachu-
setts, where there is state board of
Cancellation and arbitration. In cases
where either side refuses these con-
ctliatory measures the board may make ar
investigation. Where the parties consent to
arbitrate the commission has the right to COM
pei employers to show the books as to wages,
but they cannot be compelled to testify Is TO
profits
AS to railroads, It was likely that some time
IN the future they would pass into govern
ment control and that civil regulations would
prevail. But that time is remote, and as q
present remedy Prof. Bemis suggested
the creation OF state courts for the settlement
of disputes between company and employees
on interstate roads, and Of federal court Of
inquiry, cOnctliation, and arbitration for
the adjustment Of labor difdculties on in
terstate railways. These courts should
have power to make exhaustive inquiry and
compliance with their decisions should be
obligatory. He thought it would be good
plan to license all railway employees, just
as lake and river engineers and pilots are
licensed.
H. F. Griswold testified in regard to black
listing. He is . switchman, 20 years old,
and had been y railroad man about ten
years. He was one Of the American Railway
union organizers for the Northwestern road.
II applied for work less than a week ago
| at Altoona, o." said he. II wrote out my
name and then the trainmaster turned to Q
book, and, finding my name there. said was
blacklisted and could not have work ON that
road. The same experience was met with 1t
Columbus O."
Rev. William H. Carwardine. Of the Pullman
Methodist Episcopal church. testified at the
afternoon session. After stating briefly the
origin Of the strike, Mr.. Carwardine said:
AFTER the strike was declared felt in JUS
ttce must state my views on the question, and
| discussed the matter in the pulpit. The
wages were cut severely and unequally. There
was dissatisfaction with the local administra-
tion and with the abuses Of the foreman The
men did not have q reduction OF the rent when
the wages were cut, and the men felt that JUS
tice could not be received. Mr.. Pullman and
Mr. WickeS ore not SO much to blame for
the present state of affairs. The difaculty
| Is with the local administration II Mr..
Pullman had been in closer relationship
| with his men and il rent had been reduced
when the wages were the strike would have
Uccu aVcEtcu. uOu KNOW now mVCn the
rent should have been reduced The Pullman
company starts out with the idea OF . system
OF paternalism and the system was founded
TO improve the workingmen. I contend that
| the company should not cut the wages OF their
old employees, out act from the standpoint OF
| the paternaiistic system"
Mr.. Carwardine went on to explain how he
had met the committee OF the Pullman strikers
| and had interviewed Mr. Debs and endeavored
to have them declare the boycott OF. He was
not On advocate OF strikers, was inclined much
| in favor Of arbitration and the government
| management of railroads. He had been
charged with being an anarchist and
| q socialist. 1t was impossible to be both.
| Anarchy he repudiated entirely; he
was what might be called Christian social
| ist. Referring to the strike he said he thought
| the conduct Of the strikers had been remark
| ably good. He said he knew sixty-four lam
| lilies were soon to be eyicted at pullman, and
| after he left the stand said he was in the city
(, to raise money some way to stop the ejectment
| proceedings.
Eugene v. Debs has telegraphed the COM
mission that he is recovering from his recent
| illness, but on account of the sickness of his
| wife. he will not be able TO appear for examin-
alton before the middle OF next week.
Additional Testimony.
CHICAGO, Aug. 2l.-The first witness before
| the labor commission at the opening OF the
fourth days session was Thomas W. Heath
cote, chairman Of the Pullman strike commit
| tee who had been recalled. He said that the
Pullman company's statement that the COM
panys books might be looked over by the en-
ployes was merely statement by one of the
clerks. When the employees went to in
vestigate the books they were refused. He
said that the Pullman branch Of the American
Railway union was formed during the last OF
| March and the month of April. Nearly all of
the 1900 employees Of the company Joined the
union. Each man paid one dollar for the priv
lleges OF membership OF all the employees be-
tween $500 and 5000 lived in the houses of the
company.
Miss Mary Abbott Wood. who worked In the
electrical department ut Pullman, was the
next witness. She said she was a member of
the American Railway union and was one of
the Pullman strikers. Her father had died
some time ago in the companys employ. She
| had to support aer mother on the one dollar
day she received from the Pullman company.
She lived in one of the Pullman
! houses and paid @l7.7l month. Miss Wood
| showed the commission u notice of eviction,
dated May 3, she had received from the COM
pany. She testified that she had paid ner rent
to April 80. The company, by mistake, had
credited the rent to her sister, When she
asked for o rectihcatiOn she was refused. She
had not yet been evicted.
Frank p. Mcdonald, q locomotive engineer
on the Chicago Great Western was next called
remain on continuous service from sixty to
seventy-two hours without rest Mr.. McDon-
aid went into an extended account of the
trouble on the Chicago and Great Western. It
was caused by q refusal of the company to
restore wages, which had been cut.
MIR. Mcdonald said he opposed the recent
strike because he thought the American Rail-
way union was not strong enough to fight the
general managers in the hard times when SO
many men were out of work. He did not think
the strike would be successful. He voted for
the strike only because he was so instructed
by his local union.
Il am opposed to strikes in general" said
Mr.. Mcdonald. but when the federal govern
ment will do nothing for US. and we have no
weapon but the strike. we must use it. II it
we're not for strikes the railroad men in this
country would be working for one-half the pay
they are now getting"
Asked what he knew about the stoppage Of
mail trains the witness said that the Chicago
& Great Western mail train No on June q
last was killed by tho management of that
road and its crew was used to take out an ex-
cursion train to St. Claire. This mail train
was obstructed by the railway managers and
not by the strikers or the members of the
American Railway union.
IL