Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-13
TnEPULLMAN STRIKE
Report Thereon Of Commissioners Wright,
EsRnan, and WoIthin6ton.
GENERAL MANAGERS ASSOCIATION.
IAN Illustration Of the Plan Of Corpora.
lions to Usnrp Power "-strikc Com
naission Recommended.

CHICAGO. November 12.-The United
States Government report on the great
railway strike. In connection with the
Pullman trouble, was made public to-day.
The report. which is signed by the Fede-
raj Labor Commissioner. Carroll ID.
Wright, and his observation-disclosures. John
ID. Herman. of New York. and Nicholas
E. worthington, OF Illinois, is addressed
to President Cleveland. and abounds In
passages which will attract wide atten-
tion, particularly portion referring TO
the now famous General Managers AS
ISOLATION" the organization OF high rail-
way officials that encompassed the memo
Union.
The report says: THE committee ques-
tions whether any legal authority, statu-
tory or otherwise. can be found to Justify
some OF the features Of the association
which have come to light In this investi-
cation. II we regard It's practical work.
ings rather than Its professions. as ex-
pressed In It's constitution, the General
Managers Association has no more stand
Ing In law than the old trunk-line pool. 1t
cannot incorporate. because railroad char
ters do not authorize roads to form corpo-
ratiors or associations to fix rates for
services and wages, TO force their ac-
ceptance. nor 10 battle with strikers It
is n usurpation Of power not granted. II
such an association IL necessary from a
business or economic standpoint the right
to form and maintain II must come from
the State that granted Its charter. In
theory corporations are limited to the
tol az ItraEtixr ~ 1y c1a
Inference. We do not think the power has
been granted In either way In this case.
"The association Is an illustration OF tho
persistent and shrewdly devised plan OF
corporations to overreach their limitations
and to usurp indirectly powers and rights
not contemplated In their charters and
not obtainable from the people or their
legislatures. An extension OF this asso-
citation as above suggested and the pro-
posed legaIization of pooling would result
In an aggregation OF power and capital
dangerous to the people and their liber-
ties, as well as 10 employees and their
rights. The question would then certain
ly arise as to which should control. the
government or the railroads, and the end
would Inevitably be government owner
ship.
"tJnless ready for that result and all
that 1t implies, the government must
restrain corporations within the law, ana
prevent them from forming unlawful and
dangerous commissions. At least, 80 long
as railroads are thus permitted to COM
bine to fix wages and for their just pro-
lection. Ii would be rank injustice to
deny the right of all labor upon railroads
to unite for similar purposes.
1T should be noted that until the rail-
roads set the example. a general union
OF railroad employees was never at
tempted"
The commission recommends the crea-
ton of a permanent United States strike
commission similar TO the Interstate
Commerce Commission. and that United
States courts be given power 20 enforce
the decision of the commission.
1t suggests the consideration by States
OF the adoption Of some system Cf con-
ciliation and arbitration like that of
Massachusetts.
Ii recommends that employees recognize
labor organizations and deal with them
through their representatives ard decide
by arbitration.