The Globe-republican., 1894-08-31
THE PULLMAN STRIKE.
Progress of the Congressional In
vestigatiOn.
George M. Pullman Tells All About tho
Profits Of His Concern-Why He Ike
fused ArbitratiOn-Debs Also
Testifies.
Pullman on the Strike.

Pullman on the Strike.
CHICAGO. Aug. 2s.-George NJ. Pull
man was before the labor commission
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 $1,000
600 in 1867 had increased to S36,OOO.O 600;
that the company had paid dividends
of IL per cent. during the first two
wears of its organization, 81 per cent.
during the next two years and per
cent. annually since, and at the same
time had accumulated surplus
amounting to S25,OOO,OOO. 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
tons of the company.
Coming back to the question OF arbl-
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,
twas whether the shops at Pullman
should be closed or whether we should
put prices SO 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 arbitration"
Now. Mr.. Pullman" said Commits
sioner Worthington, taking the whole
wear through, has the Pullman Co.
made or lost money!"
ut has made money!" was the an
swer.
You have paid your regular divi-
dends?'
''Yes. sir; per cent"
That is something like s., 10000
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 So, 800, 600 could
not afford to share the losses of its
employees who have worked for it so
long?'
1.-The manufac turing business is sep
arate from the business of the sleeping
car company. l see no reason why
should take the profits of the 1900
stockholders 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 have
Uccu CdEClul dhO - s'eaA
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
untarily?'
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.
able in submitting difference like this
to arbitration?'
There are some matters that are
proper subjects for arbitration, but
cannot 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 q
thing that could not be arbitrated."
why was it impossible?"
because it violates the principl G
that man has a right to manage his
own business"
Debs TestiHes.
CHICAGO. Aug. a5.-President Debs. OF
the American Railway union, was re
called to-day by the strike commission
He stated that he did not favor com
pulsory arbitration in settlement Of
labor troubles. He did not believe thai
such method would prove universally
satisfactory. He said the statement
that there were not more than 20t
American Railway union men on thu
Rock Island was absurd. The fact tha'
the road was completely tied up effect
ually disproves such q story.
HIGH MASONIC OFFICERS.