The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-11-22
REDRESS FOR LABOR
Auaignment Of Railroads and
Pullman Car Company.
THEY USED HARSH METHODS
The United States Strike Commission
Says the Corporations Formed
Illegal Combines.

Chicago. Nov. 1.-THE United States
government report on the great railway
strike in connection with the Pullman
trouble was made public today. The
report, which is signed by Federal La
Dor Commissioner Carroll ID. Wright
and his fellow Investigators, John ID.
Herman of New York and N b. Worth
ington Of Illinois, is addressed to Pres
ident Cleveland and abounds in pas
sages which will attract wide atten-
ton, particularly the portion referring
to the now famous General Managers
Association, the organization of high
railway officials that encompassed the
memorable defeat of the American Rail-
way Union.
The report says the capitalization
of the "a railroads directly represented
in the General Managers Association
was 50, 10S ,552, GIT. The number of en-
ployes was 221. 097. The commission
continues: This voluntarily unincor-
porated association was formed in 1886.
In its constitution the object of the
association is stated to be 'considera-
ton of problems of management, aris-
ing from the operation of railroads ter
minating or entering at Chicago. 1T
further provides that all funds needed
shall be raised by an assessment divid-
ed equally among the members There
are no limitations as to the consider
ing of problems of funds except the
will of the management and the re-
sources of the railroad corporations.
Until June 1894. the associations
possibilities as a strike fighter and wage
arbitrator lay dormant. It's roads fixed
the Chicago scale for switchmen, COW
ering all lines at Chicago. In March,
1898, the switchmen demanded more
pay from each road. The association
concluded that they were paid enough
If anything, too much. The roads so
informed the men. The Switchmens'
Mutual Aid Association of North Amer
lea, wrote to Mr. st. John, as chairman,
acquiescing. He, as chairman of the
General Managers Association con-
cluded his reply as follows: 1.-THE
association approves of the course
taken by your body and de-
sres to deal fairl with all EN-
ployes and believes that our
swltchmen are receiving due considera-
ton i" This seems to show" the re-
port says the employees upon the
association roads are treated IS uAder
subsection to the General Managers
Association" and the report, after de-
failing the action of the association in
establishing agencies and employing
men adds:
THE FIRST AWAKENING.
This was the first time when the men
upon each side were brought sharply
face to face with the fact that In ques-
tions as to wages rules, etc, each line
was supported by % combined rail
roads. This association, likewise, pre-
pared for it's use elaborate schedules OF
the wages paid upon the entire lines OF
the "a members. The proposed object
of these schedules was to let each road
know what the other roads paid. Find
ing. that the men upon some lines urged
Increases to correspond with the wages
paid elsewhere, the committee of the
association prepared and presented 9
uniform schedule for all membership
roads. 1t was deemed wise not to ae
upon the report. 1t was distributed t
the members in November 1898. This
distribution alone enabled the repor
to be used with efficiency as an equal
izer.' AS a result, during 1S93-it being
then well understood as to wages etc.
that it was the intent of the Genera
Managers Association to assist eacl
road in case Of trouble over such mat
ters one form of assistance being for tn
association to secure men enough
through its agencies, to take the place
of all NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. were her
and there made on different roads
the tendency and effort apparently, be
ing to equalize the pay on all lines,
ut is admitted that the action of tn
association has great weight with out
side lines, and thus tends to establis
one uniform scale throughout the coun
try. A further single step of admit
ting lines not running into Chicago I
membership would certainly have tn
effect of combining all the railroad
in wage contentious against all EN-
ployes thereon"