The herald., 1894-08-28
ON THE RACK,
The Strike Commissioners
Examine Him.
They Ask Some Embarrassing
Questions.
The Marquis Makes Some Damaging
Admissions.
Work for 500 Ex-Pullman Employees
at Hiawaths, Ksn.,-A Now Car
Company-The Strike
investigation.

man was before the labor com mission
Vice President Wickes occupied two
hours and will appear again. AT the
outset OF his testimony, Mr.. Pullman
made a careful preliminary statement OF
his position toward the commission, and
defining the motives which had moved
the company to establish its msnufac-
turing plant and homes for workingmen
q it had. He dwelt at grsat length on
the motives which aotuated the COM
psny in building homes for the work
men at Pullman, declaring that the
town had been made so that the best
class of mechanics would prefer to live
there rather than any other place.
In reply to questions by Chairman
Wright Mr.. Pullman told of the con.
tracts for work undertaken by the COM
might be kept at work. lie said:
81 found We were being underbid by
other companies, even where We had
figured the work down to coat. / under
took to make the cOmpany's bids in
order to secure the work for our men.
My recollection is that the first order
was for 55 cara on the Long Island road
"Under my instructions the cost OF
material and labor was figured on the
basis of reduction in wages. Then 1
had the matter under consideration
here and in New York for about two
weeks, and finally put in bid for
something between $500 and $400 q car
below actual cost. ! made mp my mind
that the company would contribute that
much rather than have the men idle.
Up to the time of the strike we had lost
moro than $4,000 in pursuing this
policy. l explained thie personally to
the men when they were having their
conference with Mr.. Wickes. Mr.. Heath
cote said they wanted the wages Of 1898.
/ eaid: 1t would be most unfortunate
thing for all of US should the wages of
'93 be restored, because there is not
more than six weeks work in the shop
now, and we would be unable to get
more ON basis of the wages of '93.'"
Here Herman asked: "Were the books
shown the men?"
"No, they were not, because the men
did not apply to see them and the strike
came Friday"
"There were other grievances, were
there not?'
'There wore, but Mr.. Wickes and Mr..
Brown had promised the men to take
them up and remedy them wherever
there was just cause for complaint"
Turning the subject, Judge Worthing-
ton brought out the fact that the COM
pany's original capital stock Of 81 .000, 900
in 1876 had increased to $50, ,00U, 090;
that the company had paid dividsnds Of
II per cent during the first two years OF
it's organization, . per cent during the
next two years and per cent since, and
at the same time had accumulated q sur
plus amounting to $25, ,000,00
Referring to the stock of the company
Pullman said it represented actual cash
paid by the stock olders as the capital
was needed, and the capital stock was
increased for the legitimate business OF
the company. There vas no water in it
and none of it represented dividends.
"Now Mr. Pullman" said Commits
aionsr Worthington. taking the whole
wear through, has the Pullman company
m ade or lost money!"
'It has made money" was the ans
wer.
You have paid us regular divi-
depds?'
eS eT, per cent.
"lhat is something like $4,000, 900
you have paid out in dividends last
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 a company
that pays dividends of 81. 500. 900 could
afford to share the lossee of itH employ
ees who have worked for iteo lon9?"
'Tbe manufacturing business is sepa-
rate from the business OF the sleeping
car company. | know no reason why
should take the profits of 1900 stock
holders in the Pullman Sleeping Car
company and pay men higher rate of
wages than WIS paid in other parts of
the country for the same work, or than
was paid by other companies for the
slnie work"
HAS the Pullman company during
the years of its prosperity ever advanced
the wages of it's employees voluntarily ?"
II do not know as to that. 1t has al
ways sought to pay fair wagee."
What do YOU see that is objection.
able in submitting difference like thie
to arbitration2"
There are some matters that are
proper subjects for arbitration, but |
cannot arbitrate Oil a question where l
know the facts to be thus. The ques-
tion as to whether our shops should
continue at loss is thing which
could not be srbitrated on"
Why was it impossibls?"
because it violates the principle that
a man has right to manage his own
business"
suppose the arbtrators were to say
to you, We see you are losing, but
these men have been with you long
while; you can afford to share their
losses; we should think you could
at least pay living wages; what would
you say tc that?''
Ny point at the time was to work
with the men and secure the diaburse-