Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-11-13

| 81 iOuh do ~ NOAiN
GET ALONG WITH ITS LABOR
The men at Pullman claim that the
company during 1884 set the pace
through experts, so that with thelr
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 il simply read
iusted piece work prices TO suit the ne
cessities of the times.
Some witnesses swear that at times,
for the work done in two weeks, they
received In checks from four cents 10
one dollar over and above their rent
The company has not produced its
checks in rebuttal.
During al of this reduction and It's
attendant sufferings, none OF the sals-
ries OF the officers. managers or super
intendeutS were reduced. Reductions
in these would not have been so severe
ly felt, would have shown good talth,
would have relieved the hsrshness OF
the situation, and would have evlnced
genuine sympathy with labor In the
disasters of the times.
In its statements TO the public, which
are ia evidence, the company repre-
sents that its object In all II did was to
continue operations for the oenent OF
It's workers and OF the trades people In
and about Pullman, and TO save the
public from the annoyance OF inter
rupted travel. The commission thinks
that the evidence shows that IL sought
to keep running mainly for It's own ben
eft as manufacturer, that It's plant
might not rust, that its competitors
might not invade its territory, that 1t
might keep it's cars in repair, that IL
might be ready for resumption
WHEN BUSINESS REVIVED
with live plant and competent help,
and that its revenue from its tenements
might continue. II we exclude the
aesthetic and sanitary features at Pull
man, the rents there are from 20 to %
per cent. higher than the rents IN Chi
cago or surrounding towns for similar
accommodations. The aesthetic fea-
lures are admired by visitors but have
little money value to employees,
especially when they lack bread. The
company makes all repairs, aud hereto-
fore has not compelled tenants to pay
for them. Under the printed leases,
however, which tenants must sign, they
agree TO pay for Gil repairs, which are
either necessary Ordinary wear aud
damages by the elements not excepted)i
or which the company chooses TO make.
While reducing wages the company
made DO reduction in rents. It's position
is that the two matters are distinct and
that none of the reasons urged as justi-
flying wage reduction by it as an em-;
ployer can be considered by the coUE-
pauy as landlord.
Prior TO the so-called Truck" lsR-in
Illinois, rent was deducted from wEges.
Since then check is given for the
rent and another for the BALANCE due
for wages. There is nothing to=Srevent
the payee of the check from 6Kshng it
outside of the bank, but as tne bank is
rent collector, it presses fqE- the rent
and is aided in collecting = by knowl-
edge on the part Of the tsnant that by
arrears he may lose his frb.
The reductions at Pullman after Sep
tember, 1898, were thGTesult OF confer
ences among she managers the en-
ployes
FOR THE FIEST TINE KNEW
OF them when Fhoy took effect. The
company based rs entire contention as
TO every depaEment upon the facts In
reference TO gar building, TO which we
have ailudeF, and offered TO show its
books and 6gures as 10 the cost and sell
ing price a cars. This offer, on account
OF the stFIks intervening, was not acted
upon. Had 10 been, ii would have re-
sulted=fn publishing the figures as to
car nQilding contracts The purpose OF
! the.nanagement was obviously TO rest
tbSwnole matter upon cost, etc, In It's
most seriously crippled department,
excluding from consideration the facts
l.as to wages 10 the repair department..
The demand of the employees for
| wages of Juue, 1898 was clearly unjus-
tiiable. The business OF May, 1894,
could not pay the wages OF June, 1898.
/ Reduction was carried TO excess, but
| the company was hardly more at fault
/ therein than were the employees In in
slsting upon the wages OF June, 1898.
| There was little discussion as 10 rents,
| the company maintaining that rents
| had nothing 10 do with its wages and
/ that its revenue from its tenements was
no greater than it ought to receive.
The company had legal right 10 take
/ this position, but as between man and
man. the demand for some rent reduc-
ton was fair and reasonable under all
/ the circumstances.
The strike occurred on May II and
| from that time until the soldiers went
| 10 Pullman, about July 4, three hun
dred strikers were placed about the
com pauy's property, professsdly 70
GUARD IT FROM DESTRUCTION
or interference. This guarding OF pro.
Dertv 10 strikes, is, as a rule, mere
pretense. Too often the real object OF
/ guards IS TO prevent new comers from
/ taking strikers places by persuasion,
often to be followed II Intellectual, by
/ intimidation and violence. The Pull
man company claims this was the real
object OF these guards. The
] strikers at Pullman are entitled TO the
belief TO the contrary in this matter,
because OF their conduct and foroear-
suce after May IL. II is in evidence aud
uucontradlcLed that no violence or de-
struc,ion OF property by strikers or
! svmpathizers took place at Pullman, and
] that until July 10 extraordinary pro-
lection was had from the police or mill
tary against even anticipated disorder
Such dignifed, manly and conserVa-
tive conduct IN the midst Of excitement
, and threatened starvation is worthy OF
the highest type Of American citizen
! ship.
AS to the great railroad strike proper
the report says II is apparent that the
| ~ a arinnlIV