The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-29
Mr.. WICKES TESTIFlES.
TICE-PREsIDENT or PULLMAN co.
BEFORE THE COMMISSION.
lie Does Not Think II Good Policy to In
crease Wages Ia Prosperous Times.
More About Rent Question.

Wright announced that ne had requested
the different railroads centering In Chi
| cago to file statements OF losses caused
| by the recent strike. The gross loss
on the Alton was estimated at S2SG.3GO.
| The amount OF damage 10 the Lake Shore
! was put at $5,lGi. The loss in earnings
was not given, not having yet been COM
piled.
Charles T. Webb chief clerk Of the
Pullman Bank. told q new story OF the
| Jennie Curtis episode. in which IL has
! begn alleged that Miss Curtis was COM
| pehed 20 pay rent on q debt owed hv.
! het idlher VINO d .ed Ia arrears TO the COM
! liny MI Webb SAID Miss Curtis Of
! Tered of her own accord 10 discharge
! the debt.
| General Superintendent f. II. Brough-
! l9H, or the Chicago and Eastern Illinois
| iHtu statement showing the loss of
/ tHe ROAD during the strike 10 be SO Der
cent OF what the receipts were during
| an ordinary year
General Superintendent John u. Besler.
! OF me chicago, burlington and Quincy
| to@a declared the property loss to be
'IcE-FBEsIDENr wICzrs.
| y. NIce-Presideut Wickes. of the Pullman
! Company, then took the stand lie was
| cross questioned by Chairman Wri,bt 40
m AN You tell ne the average profit
| on a fuilnan carr
,, hat depends on the state Of business.
| W @ nave 10 80 into the field WIN otb.r
| companies. Sometimes the prohf il , nor
! cent" '' l'o'
Mr.. Wickes said the company lost ssleo
| in TllnS 10 give Its men WORK lie
lhousht, perhaps. as 10 has turned ON
lNe better business policy Of the com.
I"ny "ouii have been 10 grant the de-
i.i,'Ii9 i,ii OF the men. but there was prin-
Nf'c involved, which he dld not think
V"Wu DE ignored. If the demands had
ur'u granted there might have been
trouble in future years
10 you not think It would have been
d sood business policy for the Pullman
company 10 have Sold its employees
homes? ?'
Il don't think IL would have been wise
w. 9'li i0tS IL employees indiscriminately.
LNlI Influences would almost certainly
nave crept ia when the COMPANY lost
control OF the land"
low many cars does the Pullman
company operateY'
About tWeuty-six hundred MANY of
thcsc cars are lying on side tracks de-
terloratiug, hence the S-3.OOoOW surpius
must De taken As such only with this
fact remembered. 1t costs Us nearly as
they earn"
TIE WORLDS FAiR OSE OF TR cArsTs.
Ihe witness ascrlbed the Worlds Fair
as one OF the causes Of the strike
lie SAID the men were making very
laIse wages during the iair, a. We let
tnem DO as much overtime as they
pleased. ] suppose they found Il very
hard after the prosperous times OF ex-
prices
Has the Pullman Company ever in |
creased wages voluntarly%
IT has in the case OF some or the shop |
men"
INT not as regards any large body OF
"No. SIR"
,"Dont you think it would be a good
plan TO Increase the wages OF the men |
Ia prosperous yearsY"
No, l DO not think that plan would
work well II would have a tendency I
10 slip-shod business methods We go /
into the market for our men just as We
DO for materials 1t is regulated by law
or supply and demand
Mr. Wickes thought that if The men at
pullman had been let alone by out
sders they would have gone back 10
work. He however, gave Vice President
Howard Of the American Railway Tn on
credit for having advised the Pullman
employees not 10 strike. No orders TOR
eviction had been given out yet. al
though the employees owe the company
100000 Tor back rents.
Was reduction OF wages made evosy
time contract was taken at loss
by the company"
who regulates the prices of piece
WOrk?"
The foreman Of our shops"
Now. isn't it probable that the fore
man can so reduce The price OF piece
work as to make up for the loss in
Cured by the company in taking c,n-
tracts below the estimated cOst?'
1T is possible, but do not think it
Have you taken any steps to correct
this abuse?
NO. sir
QUESTION OF RENTS.
"XVhv were not rents reduced when
wages were cutY
.aI'he question OF rents was an entirely
lifereur one from the question Of wages.
only about One-thrd Of our employees lived
In Pullman. We could not have reduced
the rents for the majority, VINO hVed
outside.
were they
They We're not.
Then. why. when the panic conditions
,ame would IL not have been advisable |
o have charged lower rates?'
'~rhere Is no connection between the !
Pullman Car Works and the town Of q
pullman. The men don't nave TO i've
n Pullman unless they wish. They can
move out without prejudice on the part
II the company.
MIR. Wickes said the company. as a
natter Of fact. did all the repairing, al
hough the lease provided that the tenant
Don't YOU think that making them
dgn an agreement 10 do this whether
or not. is very unjustY' he was
.sked
I'm not prepared to offer any opinion
m that"
You don't recognize that there are any
uestions in regard TO wages that can be
properly arbitratedY"
Il do not think all companies know
What wages they can afford To pay
What Is your policy as 10 unions?'
sked Mr.. Herman.
I'VE don't recognize the men as MEM |
ers Of unions. but as individuals"
'sDo YOU think the men would have a
air chance with the company coming |
,efore IL one at a timey'
"If they are not able 10 plead their |
,vn case il is their misfortune 5
''Yon don't think. then. that the men {
ave any right to organize for redress or 5
mo. sir; If they don't want work at /
he wages we offer, they have the priyi- G.
eye of going somewhere else" Il
IN witness gave the capacity Of the d
works. as five cars week In the passen- [
er department, and forty cars per day y
n the freight shops. He admitted that O
e was present at one of the General
meetings, but took no part IN
l. Mr. Wickes stated that a Few years
20 Mr. Pullmas's salary was only $1,000
year as president Of the company. lie 7
eclined TO state what IL ow is. or what a
hat Of the other general officers Is. None II
these had been reduced during the '
trike.
GENERAL Mills on THE STAND b
General Nelson A Miles WAS called 10 | "