Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-11-23


PALACE CAW COMPANY
How a Great Corporation Thrivcs and
Grows Fat orr Its Employees.
Taking up the subject of the Pullman
Palace Car Company, the report says:
This is corporation organized in 1867 |
with capital of 81, 000, 900. 1t has grown |
until it's present paid up capital is $780, |
100000. Its prosperity has enabled the |
company for over 20 years to pay per
cent. quarterly dividends and in ad-
dition to lay up a surplus of nearly
$25, 600 900 of undivided profits"
Speaking of the town of Pullman,
of which the report says the company
is owner and landlord, the commissioner
says: THE principal church and its
parsonage are very attractive struc-
lures, but often are not occupied because
the rental required is higher than any
church society Is willing to pay to OBJ
tain gospel privileges to be thereby
secured. In the arcade Is a tasteful
library of books, carefully selected and
cared for by the company. Three dol
lars per year is charged for it's use
and as MANY as $50 persons year out
of 1000 employees and residents, have at
times, as stated by the librarian in
charge, awaited themselves of it's OPP
portunities. 1t is possible that the air
of business maintained there, as else
where, and their exclusion from any
part in it's management, prevent more
| universal and grateful acceptance of
it's advantages by the employees. AS
| rule, even employees prefer indepen-
dence to paternalism in such matters.
THE company pays a physician and
| surgeon by the year to furnish to in
jured employees the necessary treatment
and drugs. 1t is however, also a part
of his employment to secure from the in
jured party written statement as to
the cause OF the Injury, and it is his
custom to urge the acceptance of any
offered settlement. If a suit follows
the doctor is usually witness for the
company. We have no evidence that the
doctor ever abused his confidential rela-
ton towards injured employees, but the
system is admirably conceived from a
business standpoint to secure as speedi-
ly as possible the settlement of claims
for damages, upon terms Offered by
the company. and to protect the COM
pany from litigation and it's results.
COULD DICTATE ANYTHING.
"As a result of the Pullman system
| ana 1tS SToWtI, WHICH, Tic uSPiCSshoh vi
1898 came, morally calling for mutua
concessions as to wages, rents, etc, we
find on one side a very wealthy and un
yielding corporation and upon tfe 9th
, err a multitude of employees of conpara
lively excellent character and skill, bu
, without local attachments or any1nter
ested responsibility in the town, 1T
business, tenements or surroundings
The conditions created at Pullman
9 enable the management at all tines t.
!, assert with great vigor its assumH righ
| to fix the wages and rent, absolutely
and to repress that sort of ildepen
dence which leads to labor oIganiza
6 tions and their attempts at mediation
q arbitration of strikes, etc. On tn
n other hand 1t is an economic Principle
!, generally recognized, that the huttin
4 down OF such a plant and scattering o
y its forces usually results ia create
. loss than that exhibited by tn, contin
:. uance of business. The Pullman com
! pany could hardly shut down FIR seve
o. and one-half months at a cost md los
of less than 1 per cent, upon itscapits
~ and surplus To continue running wa
h for it's obvious and unfair adv.ntag'
+ so long as 1t could divide the losse
10 equally with it's labor.
h WAGES CUT UNI OoIIl.
,s 1.-The men at Pullman claimthat tn
re company during 1893 and 1874 set tn
g pay through experts so that With the
g. forced loss of time an aveage ma
could earn little more than the rer
ne of his house, owned by the 'compan,
t. The company alleges that it simpl
sh readjusted the prices of piece work
n suit the necessities of the times.
H. aCop,a u,itpaScas ewpnr hat at time
to for work done in two weeks, they r
he ceived in checks from ceits to 81 ov'
DIS and above their rent. The compar
n has not produced it's check in rebutts
During all of this reduction and l
attendant suffering none o the salari
of officers, managers, or superinten
,or ents were reduced. The eductions
those would not have bea so severe
felt; would have shown good fait
'e' would have relieved the harshness
er- the situation, and evincedgenuine syi
of pathy with labor disasers of t
ch times"
"a In it's statements to the public, viii
rls- are in evidence, the company repi
a., sents that it's object in all
has done, was contin
raj dence the company reprsents that
pre- operations for the baefit of
INK worI<ingmen and of thetradespeol
be- q, and about Pullman an to save [
au- public from the annoyancOf interrul
or ed travel The commissio thinks
ces evidence shows that it soght to Ike
PIT running mainly for its own benz
IL as a manufacturer; that itplan. mis-
ed. not rust. that its competitors mis-
airy not invade it's territory; tat it mis-
mt keep it's cars in repair; tina 1t might
ust ready for resumption WIN busin
its revived with a live plant an compet
are help, and it's revenue from Is teneme
oi- might continue.
not -
in WHERE REspONsIsILrY RES
cia-
tent Government to Blame Tor f1lfng TO