St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-11-13

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less ready for that result and all that 1t
implies, the government must restrain
corporations within the law and pre-
vent them from forming unlawful and
dangerous combinations. At least, so
long as railr0dS are thus permitted TO
combine to fix wages and for their joint
protection, 1t would be- rank injustice to
deny the right of all labor upon rail-
roads to unite for similar protection.
'lt should be noted that until the
railroads set the example a general
union of railroad employees was never
attempted. The unions had not gone
beyond enlistment of men under diff
ferent systems in separate trade organ
izations. These
NeutraIized and Checked Each
Other
to some extent, and have no such scope
or capacity for evil as is possible under
the universal combination idea iuau-
gurated by the railroads and followed
by the American Railway union. The
refusal of the General Managers assO-
citation 10 recognize and deal with such
combination of labor as the American
hallway union seems arrogant and aO-
Surd when we consider its standing
before The law, its assumptions, and
its past and obviously contemplated
future action"
Taking up the subject of the Pull
man Palace Car company. the report
says:
This is corporation organized in
1867, with a capital of 81, 000, 900. 1t has
grown until its present pald-up capital
is S36.00O,000. Its property has enabled
the company tor over twenty years to
pay 2 per cent quarterly dividends. ana
III addition to lay surplus of nearly
S25, 5,0O0.G00 of undivided profits.
Speaking of the town of Pullman, of
which the report states the company is
owner and landlord. the commission
says: The principal church and its par
sonage are very attractive structures,
but often are not occupied, because the
rental required is higher than any
church society is willing TO pay to OBJ
tain the gospel privileges thereby Sc
cured. In the Arcade Is a tasteful
library of books, carefully selected and
cared for by the company. Three dol
lars per year is charged for its use. aud
as many as $50 persons year out of
from 1000 to 5000 employees and resi-
dents have at times, as stated by the
librarian in charge, ayai!ed themselves
OF its opportunity. 1t is possible that
the air of business strictly maintained
there, as elsewhere. ami their exclusion
from any part in its management pre-
vent more universal ana grateful ac.
ceptance of its advantages by employees.
Men, as rule, even when employees,
prefer Independence to palernalism in
such matters.
The company provides and pays
physician and surgeon by the year to
furnish to injured employees necessary
treatment and drugs. 1t is, however,
also part of his employment to secure
from the injured party a written state
ment as to the causes of injury, and it
is his custom to urge the acceptance of
any offered settlement. If suit follows,
the doctor is usually
Witness for tine Company.
We have no evidence that thu doctor
has ever abused his confidential relation
toward the injured employees. But the
system Is admirably conceived from
business standpoint to secure speedy
settlement of claims for damages upon
terms offered by the company, and to
protect the company from litigation and
its results.
As a result of the Pullman system
and its growth, when the depression of
1893 came, morally calling for mutual
concessions as TO wages, rents, ETC., we
lind Oh the one hand a very wealthy and
unyleldlng corporation, and upon the
other multitude of employees of COM
paratively excellent character and skill,
but without local attachments or any
Interested responsibility in the town,
its business, ,tenemCnts or surroundings.
The conditions created at Pullman ena.
bic the management at all times to as
sert With great yigOr its assumed right
to fix wages and rents absolutely, and
to repreSS that sort of independence
lao6C Tn Ia mi
their attempts at mediation, arbitration,
strikes. etc. On the other hand, it is an
economic principle generally recognized
that the shutting down of such plant
and the scattering of its forces usually
result In a greater loss than that eX-
hlbted by the continuance of business.
Inc Pullman company could hardly
shat down for seven and half months
at cost and loss of less that per cent
upon its capital and surplus. To con-
tinue running was for its obvious and
fair advantage, SO long as it could
divide losses equally with its labor. The
men at Pullman claim that the company
during 1S93-94 set pace through eX-
perts. SO that with their forced loss of
time an average man could earn little
more than the rent of his home owned
by the company. The company alleges
that it simply adjusted piece work
prices to suit the necessities of the
times.
Some witnesses swear that at times
tor the work done in two weeks they
received in checks from 40 cents to 81
over and above their rent. The cons
pany has not produced its checks in
rebuttal. During all of this reduction
and its attendant suffering
None of the Salaries of Officers.
managers or superintendents we're re-
duced. Reductions in these would not
have been so severely felt, would have
shown good faith, would have relieved
the harShneSS of the situation and
would have evinced genuine sympathy
with labor in the disasters of the times.
In its statements to the public which
are III evidence, the company repre-
Sents that its object in all it did was to
continue operations for the benefit OF
its WOrkmen and of tradespeople in
ana about Pullman, and to save the pub
lie from the annoyance of interrupted
travel. The commission thinks that the
evidence SHOWS that it sought to keep
running mainly for its own benefit as
manufactures, that it's plant might not
rust; that its competitors might not in
wade its territory: that 1t might keep its
cars In repair; that it might be ready
for resumption when business revived
with live plant and competent help,
and that its revenue from its tenements
might continue. If we exclude the san
itaTy features at Pullman, the rents
there are from ~ to 25 per cent higher
than rents in Chicago or surrounding
towns for similar accommodations. The
aesthetic features are admired by visit
ors, but have little money value to en-
ployes, especially when they lack
bread. The company makes all repairs,
and heretofore has not compelled ten
ants to pay for them. Under the printed
leases, however, which tenants must
sign, they agree TO pay for all repairs
which are either necessary Ordinary
wear and damages by the elements not
eXcepted) or which the company
chooses 20 make.
The company's claim that the work
mon need not hire itc tanamaDtc ard