The Helena independent., 1894-07-09
PuLLMANIsM.

III C2ar Pullman ana MS Ono NAN
town have any friends they are keeping
mighty quiet While there are differ
ences OF opinion as 10 the justification
for a boycott that does such vast injury
to innocent people, we have yet to hear
even one solitary approval OF the palace
car dictator aud his methods.
We are glad to see that so able a man
as Senator John Sherman proposes to
clip the wings of this overgrown mag
nate. In an interview Mr.. Sherman
says:
"This matter has no reference what
ever to the strike that is now in prog
ress in the west 1t Is something that
l have been thinking about for long
time, and ! have talked with my col
leagues in the senate sufficiently TO find
that they are in hearty sympathy with
my effort TO cause a reform 10 the rates
charged, not only by the Pullman, bat
by other sleeping car companies. l re-
gard these rates as simply infamous.
II is outrageous for US to be compelled
TO pay such high prices for such poor
accommodations as we receive TO and
fro in our trips about the country.
They give you short, narrow berth, 30
close and uncomfortable that in many
cases one would rather cit up all night
than submit TO the inconvenience OF
the compartment. II you get lower
berth and no one has the upper the por-
ter insists upon putting the lid down
and so increasing your misery rather
than giving you the benefit OF the air.
do not know why this ia 80, unless 1t
is an effort on the part OF the company
to make their prestige all the greater
and the more uncomfortable.
81 regard the Pullman company and
the sugar trust as the most outrageous
monopolies Of the day. They make
enormous profits and give their patrons
little or nothing in return in proper
tion. IL is perfectly clear 10 me that
there is a way to reach the sleeping car
problem with ease through government
action. States have in many instances
adopted regulations intended to reduce
the evil OF the extortionate charges on
the railroads, but there are few, il any,
railroads that run sleepers through but
one state, and thus these laws are Of no
avail, for no state can regulate any cor.
poration beyond it's own limits For
instance, in Ohio We n iee au effort 10
control this matter, but the railroads
have always found way TO avoid the
law. The United States can easily
control the charges for sleepers just as
the railway fares have been regulated
by means Of the interstate commerce
law. ! believe that that act has been
amply enforced, without very much
trouble, and can see no reason why a
similar act should not be passed with
reference to the sleeping car problem.
A bill OF a dozen lines would suffice,
fixing the rate per mile 10 be charged
by these companies and providing a
penalty for overcharRing. / think the
rates should be reduced just one-half.
The Pullman company, for instance, is
very rich, made so by the enormous and
disproportionate profits on it's cars.
With half that profit the company
could make a great deal OF money and
give the public better service.
"Then, too, think the system Of tip.
ping the employees OF tho company
should DO discontinued. IL ID q small
mntter in the individual case, but il il
an extortlon 10 pay tho porter for each
trip you take. The trouble Is thai
these mon nre not paid enough by The
company. II they were paid adequate
salaries the passengers would not b,
obliged TO come forward To help then
out | really think tho men neod th,
money in most cases and always Civ,
because DO not want TO feel moan o.
to appear mean about the matter
There is sort Of oompulson about il
though. that is worry disagreoable, and /
, could all bo avoided"
Good for Uncle John Shermnnl IIel
make n presidential platform for him
self yet