The Indiana State sentinel., 1894-08-29

CHICAGO. Aug. 27.-George NJ. Pull
man was before the labor commission for
| nearly three hours this afternoon. Vice
President Wickes, who followed his su-
perior, occupied two hours and will APP
pear again. At the outset of his testi-
mony Mr.. Pullman made a careful pre-
limnary statement of his position TOW ard
the commission and defining the motives
which had moved the company to estdb-
lish its manufacturing plant and homes
for workingmen as it had. He dwelJ at
great length on the motives which act
| uated the company in building homes for
wor,ingmen at Pullman, declaring that
the town had been made attractive "a
that the best class of mechanics would
! prefer TO live there, rather than in any
other place.
In answer to queries by Chairman
Wright Mr.. Pullman told of the con-
tracts for work undertaken by the COM
pany at loss in order that the men
might be kept at work. He said:
Il found we were being underbi1 by
other companies, even where we had
figured the work down TO cost. I under
took TO make the Pullman company's
bids lower than any other in order to
/ secure the work for our men. My recol-
/ lection is that the first order of that kin
was for fifty-five ears on the Long Island
railroad. Under my instructions the cost
of material and labor was figured IN the
cars on the basis Of the reduction in
wages Then / had the matter under
consideration mere and ii New York for
about two weeks and finally put IN 4
bid for something between $500 and $40O
a car below actual cost. 1 made up my
mind that the company would contribute
that much rather than have the men idle.
Up 10 the time Of the strike we had lost
more than $50 eco in pursuit of this
policy. I explained this personally to the
men when they We're having their con-
ference with Mr.. Wicles. Mr.. Heath
cote said they wanted the wages of 1898.
/ said: 1t would be most unfortunate
thing for all Of you if the wages Of 1893
were restored, because there is not moro
than six weeks work in the shops now
and we would be unable TO get more on
basis of the wages of 1893
WicIscS VIII Answer.
Here Mr.. Herman Interrupted to know
if the company had not promised TO dis
charge none of the committee that wait
ed on Wicxes and whether the promise
had been kept Mr.. Pullman said he
did no1 know but Mr.. Wickes would tell.
books shown 10 the men?
NO they were not because the men
did not apply 10 see them, and the strike
came Friday
There were other grievances, were
there not2'
There were. but Mr. Wickes and Mr..
Brown had promised the men to take
them up and remedy them wherever
there was just cause for complaint
Judge Wcrthington asked:
"As 10 this reported declaration of
yours that you had nothing to arbitrate,
were you correctly reported2'
Il have already explained my views
on that subject"
Turning the subject Judge Worthing-
ton brought out the fact that the COM
pany's original capital stock of $1,000 900
I'm 1867 had increased to S36, 600 600; that
the company had paid dividends Of II
per cent. during the first two years of
its organization. 91a per cent. during the
next two years and per cent. annually
since and at at the same time had ac-
cumulated a surplus amounting TO $25,-
600. coo. He also e,icited the statement
that the stock Of the Pullman land asso-
citation was entirely in the possession Of
the Pullman palace car company, having
been acquired gradually by the invest
ment of the car cOmpany's surplus earn
ings in the certificates of the land assO-
citation. The original 500 acres on which
the town stands was acquired by the
car company on legal advice and by the
authority of lis charter, which gave IL
right TO acquire land to the amount
needed in the business operations of the
company.
Referring to the stock of the. company
Mr.. Pullman said it represented actual
cash paid by the stockholders as the
capital was needed and the capital stock
was increased for the legitimate busi-
ness of the company. There was no
water in it and none Of it represented
dividends.
Coming back to the question of arbi-
tration Mr.. Pullman said he remembered
no formal attempt to get him TO arbi-
trate with the men. He had declared
his willingness to arbitrate.
THE only question with me- he said.
was whether the shops at Pullman
should be closed or whether we should
cut prices 50 low as to command all the
work available in the country. 1t was
not the amount Of loss but the principle
involved that made me averse to arbi-
tration.''
Declared the Usual Dividend.
Now. Mr.. Pullman" said Commits
sioner Worthington. taking the whole
year through, has the Pullman company
made or lost money!"
1T has made money" was the an
swer.
You have paid your regular divi-
dends?"
Yes sir, s per cent"
THAT is something like 50 800 900 you
have paid out in dividends for the year?
Yes, but that includes the latter part
OF the worlds fair season, which was ex-
ceptional."
Let me ask you, Mr.. Pullman, wheth-
er you do not think a company that pays
dividends Of $2S0O.000 could not afford
10 share the losses of It's employees, who
have worked for IL SO long?"
THE manufacturing business is separ-
ate from the business of the sleeping car
company. / see no reason why I should
take the profits OF the 4.200 stockholders
in the Pullman sleeping car company
and pay men a higher rate Of wages than
was paid In other parts OF the country
for the same work. or that was paid
by other companies for the same work.
Because we have been careful and ac-
cumulated surplus l do not see that II