The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-02
sHERMAN oN PULLaIAN.
Tho Ohio Senator Berates the Railway
sleepIng Car 1Ionopoly.

HterAfe8
sleeping Car Monopoly.
WASHINGTON, July 2-Senator Sher-
man makes a statement which will at
tract widespread attention about his res.
olution which was adopted BY the senate,
directing an investigation Of the Pullman
sleeping car business with a view to the
determination of what are reasonable
rates Of fare.
This natter he said. ..has no refer
ence whatever TO the strike now in pro-
gress in the west. 1t i something that [
have been thinking about for a long
time. and l have talked with my col
leagues in the senate sufficiently TO ind
than they are ia hearty sympathy with
my effort to cause a reform in the rates
ing car companies. L regard these rates
as simply infamous. 1T is outrag e0us for
US to be compelled to pay higA prices for
such poor accommodations AS We receive
in our trips to and fro about the country.
II regard the Pullman company and
sugar trust as the most outrageous mo
nopolies Of the day They make enor-
nous profits and give their patrons little
or nothing III return IN proportion. 1t is
perfectly clear to me that there is "A way
to reach the sleeping car problem with
ease through government action.
II think the rates should be reduced
one-half The Pullman company. for in-
stance, is very rich, made so by the enor-
nous and dlspropOrtiOnate profits on
their cars. With half that profit the
com pany could make a great deal of
money. and give The public better SER
vice. Perhaps you don't know, but il is.
nevertheless, a fact, that the Pullman
company charges each railroad running
its cars three cents d mile for every car,
and this rOes into the pockets Of the Pulls
mans. in addition TO the rates paid by the
passengers. For instance, between New
\ FORK and Chicago the railroad pays
about $40 for each sleeper run, and the
Pullman company gets several tunes
that sum in addition from the public
That $50 paid by the railroad is counted
into the running expenses of the road,
and is eventually paid by the passen ger
IN the fare he gives for his ride. So the
traveller pays twice, in reality, for his
questionable accomm odations on board
sleeper.
then, too, 1 think the system Of tip
ping the employees Of the company
should be discontinued. 1t is a small
matter IN the individual case, but it is an
extortion to pay the porter for each trip
you take. The trouble is that these men
are not paid enough by the company If
they were paid adequate salaries the
passengers would not he obliged to come
forward to help them out / really think
the men need the money in most cases,
and / always give because 1 don't wish
to feel or appear mean about the matter.
1uCEt IS II sort Oh CullluASAOu dDOut III,
though, thas IS very disagreeable. and II
could all be avoided.
There is one matter that should not
be overlooked in this consideration. The
main patents on these sieepers have ex-
pred, and there is no reason why the
railroads should not begin now TO make
and run their own cars 1 was aequaint-
ed with the original inventor Of the
sleeping car, who is now dead. He was
obliged TO sell out to the Pullman com
pany. and they have held the monopoly
with great care. The first patents have
now, 1 believe, run out. and although
the Pullmans have taken out letters for
some improvements, ] think ii would be
perfectly easy for the monopoly TO be
broken.
The Wagner company is composed Of
members of the Central company, and
the rates remain the same. 50 that the
public does not get the benefit Of the in
dependence Of the Central from the
Pullman people in the least This will
always be until the government takes
hold and regulates the rates"