The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-08-29
PULLMAN'S KINDNESS.
President of the Palace Car Company
Enlightens the Strike Com
mission
AS TO HIS GREAT GOODNESS.
Lost q Little ON Contracts, But Man
aged to Squeeze through Without
Cutting Dividends.

CHICAGO, Ang. 90 George III. Pull
man was before the labor commission
for nearly three hours during the after
noon. Vice President Wickes, who fol-
lowed his superior, occupied two hours
and win appear again.
At the outset of his testimony Mr..
Pullman made q careful preliminary
statement Of his position toward the
commission and defining the motives
which had moved the company to estab-
lish Its manufacturing plant and homes
for workingmen as it had. In answer
to queries by Chairman Wright Mr..
Pullman told Of the contracts for work
undertaken by the company at loss i'm
order that the men might be kept at
work He said:
"Up 10 the time of the strike we had
lost more than 900. 900 in pursuit Of this
policy. explained this personally TO
the men when they were having their
conference with Mr.. Wickes."
Regarding Arbitraaion.
Answering Judge Worthington, Mr..
Pullman said he did not have charge Of
detail work in connection with the
c0mpany's affairs, but that he was
president and received the reports of
other officers. The Judge asked:
.As 70 this reported declaration OF
yours that you had nothing TO arbitrate.
were you correctly reportedp'
II have already explained my riews
ON that subject. They are contained
in the printed statement submitted, y
referring to the printed interviews pub-
lished during the progress Of the strike.
During the questioning Judge Worth
ington brought ont the fact that the
company's original capital stock Of
81, ,0OO, 600 in 1867
Had Increassd - es8.0O0,Oo
that the company had paid dividends
20 ae per cent during the first two years
Of its organization, 01S per cent during
the next two years and Q per cent annu-
ally since and ct the same time had &C.
cumulated = surplus amounting 10 A96,-
900, 600. he also elected the statement
that the stock Of the Pullman Land as-
sociation was entirely in the possession
Of the Pullman Palace Car company.
having been acquired gradually by the
investment of the Car company.s sur
plus earnings In the certificates Of the
Land association.
Recurring to the stock Of tho COM
pany Mr.. Pullman said it represented
actual cash paid by the stockholders, as
the capital was decided and the capital
stock was increased for the legitimate
business OF the company. There was
no ''water" In 1t and none of IL repre-
sented stock dividends.
Was Successful Year.
Now, Mr.. Pullman, Y said Commits
sioner Worthington, sstaking the whole
year through has the Pullman company
made or lost money!
IL has made money was the
answer.
Commissioners Worthington continued
the questions:
''you have paid yonr regular divi-
dends?''
Eyes, sir; 8 per cent =
THAT u something like &a.80o. 900
you have paid ont il dividends for the
year?''
.sYes, but that includes the latter
part Of the worlds fair season, which
was exceptional. z
Let me ask you, Mr.. Pullman,
whether you do not think company
that pays dividends Of o., 2,8oO, 900 could
not afford 10 share the losses Of its en-
ployes who have worked for Iii solonQP''
couldnt Rob tAs stoekhoidsrs.
The manufacturing business is sem
arate from the business or the sleepine
car company. Isee no reason why
should take the profits or the 4.2OO
stockholders In the Pullman SleepanQ
Car company and pay men higher
rate Of wages than was paid by other
companies for the Same work. Because
we have been careful and accumulated
. surplus I do mot zee that Ii Ii reason
we should take the surplus now ana
pay y ont for exceptionally high
wages.
Has the Pullman company during |
the years Of its prosperity ever advnncad |
the wages OF its employees voluntarilvs'
II do not know as To that. It has al |
ways sought TO pay fair wages and the |
fact that we have never had but one |
strike Ii pretty good evidence that the |
men have been satisfied :,
Didn's Cut His Own salazy.
Was your salary reduced, Mr.. Pun
man7''
He said his salary had not been re-
duced.
Nor the salaries Of superintendent
and foremans''
mo. 7,
.Whyf''
Mr. Pullman said ii was not good |
policy 70 reduce the salaries Of high Of.
ficials because men Of their calibre were ]