The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-08-31
PULLMAN TALKS.
The Sleeping Car Magnate APP
pears Before the Commission.
REASONS FOR NOT ARBITRATINC.
Pullman Says q Man Has Right to Man.
;ye His Own Business-Yice Presi-
dent Wickes Tells the Part
He Played

for nearly three hours yesterday after
noon. In reply to queries by Chair
man Wright, Mr.. Pullman told of the
contracts for work undertaken by the
company at loss. in order that the
men might be kept at work.
Judge Worthington asked: "As to
this reported declaration of yours that
you had nothing to arbitrate, were you
correctly reported?''
Il have already explained my views
on that subject
Turning the subject. Judge Worth
ington brought out the fact the COM
pany's original capital stock of s1.OOO,-
600 in 1867 had increased to S36, 5000, 900;
that the company had paid dividends
of IL per cent. during the first two
years of its organization, 91S per cent.
during the next two years and per
cent, annually since, and at the same
| time had accumulated surplus
amounting to S25,O00.0O0. He also
ELECTED the statement that the stock
of the Pullman Land association
was entirely in the possession of
the Pullman Palace Car Co, having
been acquired gradually by the invest
ment of the car company's surplus
earnings in the certificates of the land
association. The original 500 acres on
which the town stands was acquired
by the car company on legal advice and
by the authority of it's charter, which
gave it right to acquire land to the
amount needed in the business opera
tionS of the COMPANY
Referring to the stocks of the COM
pany, 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 business of the company.
There was no water in il and none of
it represented dividends.
Coming back to the question of arbi-
tration, Mr.. Pullman said he remem-
bered no formal attempt TO get him to
arbitrate with the men. He had de-
clared his willingness to arbitrate.
1.-The only question with me-" he said,
''was whether the shops at Pullman
should be closed or whether we should
put prices so low as to command all
the work availa BILE in the country. 1t
was not the amount of loss, but the
principle involved that made me averse
to arbitration
Now. Mr.. Pullman" said Commits
sioner Worthington, taking the whole
year through, has the Pullman Co.
made or lost money!
1T has made money" was the an
swer.
You have paid your regular divi-
dends?"
Yes. sir; per cent"
''That is something like g.. 500, 900 |
you have paid out in dividends for the |
year?"
Yes, but that includes the latter
part of the worlds fair season, which !
was exceptional"
Let me ask you, Mr.. Pullman,
whether you do not think company |
that pays dividends of 81, $780, 900 could |
not afford to share the losses of its |
employees who have worked for it so
long?''
THE snanufac turing business is sep
arate from the business of the sleeping
car company. | see no reason why /
should take the profits of the 400
in the Pullman Sleeping
Car Co. and pay men higher rate of
wages than was paid in other parts of
the country for the same work or than
was paid by other companies for
the same work. Because we haze
been careful and accumulated a sur
plus l do not see that it is a reason
why we should take the surplus now
and pay it out for exceptionally high
wages
Has the Pullman company during
the years of its prosperity ever adj
vanced the wages of its employees vol
Il do not know as to that. 1t has
always sought to pay fair wages, and
the fact that we have never had but
one strike is pretty good evidence that
The men have been satisfied"
What do you see that is objection
lble in submitting difference like this
TO arbitration
There are some matters that are
proper subjects for arbitration, but
,annot arbitrate on question where /
know the facts to be thus and so. The {
question as to whether our shops
should continue to be run at loss is
hing that could not be arbitrated."
why was it impossible?"
''Because it violates the principle ,
hat man has right to ma mage his
,wn business"
After Mr.. Pullman was excused Vice i
President Wickes called. He rehearsed ,
he history of the strike and the part
lie played in it. He said the discharge {
If the members of the grievance COM
nittee after he had promised that they !
hould not be molested for the part in l
he committees work was altogether
without his knowledge and was not in
entional on the part of the minor Off
ials who laid them of. In support of
lis declaration. Mr.. Wickes presented
he afiidavits of the foreman who had
aid Off the committeeman. averring
he discharge had come in the ordinary
curse of the company's business, and
vas due entirely to lack of work in the
apartment where the committeeman
we're employed. Witness said he had
greed to remedy the so-called shop
.rievances wherever they were proved
rue, and had begun the work of in
estigation when the strike was pre- 4
ipitated and ended the investiga
ion. The balance of Mr.. Wicl1es' evi
ence was mainly corroborative of
he statements made BY Mr.. Pull
ian. He was followed bv =
ianager Bryant, b
Clippings.
The use of the toothpick is essential q
an act of the toilet, pertaining as it s
pes to the care of the body. and should :