The morning call., 1894-11-13
THE GREAT STRIKE
Report of the National
Commission.
JUST BECAUSE 1T COULD.
Insolent Tyranny of the Pullman
Company.
IT BECAUSE 1T COULD.
RAILROADS MUST NOT COMBINE.
On the Whole Debs Would Appear
Not to Have Been SO Very
Far Wrong.

CHIC AGO. Nov. 12.-The United States
Government report on the great railway
strike in connection with the Pullman
trouble was made public to-day. The re-
port, which is signed BY the Federal Labor
Commissioner. Carroll d. Wright, and his
observation-disclosures, john D. Herman Of
New York aud Nicholas B. Worthington
of illinois, is addressed to President Cleve-
land, and abounds in passages which will
attract wide attention, particularly the
portion referring to the now-famous Cen
eral Managers Association. the organiza-
tion of high railway officials that encom-
passed the memorable defeat of the Ameri-
can Railway Union. The report says the
capitalization of the twenty-four railroads
directly represented in the General Mana
gers Association was s.. los, 552.6 .617. The
number of employees was 221 ,097. The
commission continues:
This voluntarily incorporated association
was formed in 1886. In It's constitution the
object Of the association is stated TO be ''the
consideration OF problems of manageme mt
arising from the operation of the railroads
terminating or centering at Chicago" 1t fur
ther provides that "all funds needed shall be
raised by assessment divided equally among
the members"
There are no limitations as TO considering
OF problems Of funds except the will of the
managers and the resources OF the railroad
corporations.
Until June 1894 the associations possibill-
ties as strike-fghter and wage arbitrator lay
dormant. Its roads fixed a "Chtcago scale' for
switchmen. covering all lines at Chicago. In
March, 1898, the switchmen demanded that
pay from each road. The association con.
cluded they were paid enough-if anything too
much. and the roads so informed the men. The
Swi;chmenS Mutual Aid Association OF North
America wrote TO Mr.. st. John, as chairman,
acduiescing. He, as chairman of the General
Managers Association, concluded his reply as
follows:
"The association approves the course taken
= your body, and desires TO deal fairly with
all employees, and believes our switchmen ale
receiving due consideration"
This seems to show" the report says,
''that employees upon association roads ara
treated as under subsection to the General
Managers Association" and the report,
after detailing the action of the associa-
ton in establishing agencies and employ
ing men, adds:
This was the first time when men upon each
side were brought sharply face TO face with the
fact that In questions as to wages, rules ETC.,
such line was supported by twenty-four COM
blned railroads.
This association likewise prepared for its use
elaborare schedules Of the wages paid upon the
entire lines of the twenty.four members. The
proposed object OF these schedules was to let
each road know what other roads paid Find
lng that the men upon some lires urged in
creases TO correspond with wages paid else
where committee of the association pre-
pared and presented uniform schedule for all
membership roads.
1t was deemed wise not to act npOn the
report. but it was distributed to members in
November, 1898. This distribution alone en-
abled the report TO be used with efficiency as
an equalizer" AS the result during 1S93-it
being then we'll understood as to wages, etc. it
was duty OF the General Managers ASsocia-
tion to assist each road in case of trouble over
such matters, one form of assistance being for
the association 10 secure men enough, through
its agencies. 70 take the places of all trikers-
reductions were here and there made Oh the
different roads, the tendency and effort appar-
emily being to equaliZe the pay on all lines
1t is admitted that the action of the associa-
tlOn has great weight with outside lines and
thus tends TO establish one uniform scale
throughout the country. The further single
step of admitting lines not running into Chicago
TO membership would certainly have the effect
o! combining all railroads in wage contentious
against all employees thereon.
1t is questionable whether any legal authority,
statutory or otherwise, can be found to Justify
some of the features OF The association which
nave come 10 llgnt III tnls investigation. II we
regard its practical workings rather than its
professions as expressed in It's constitution the
General Managers Association has no more
standing in law than the old Trunk Line Pool.
1t cannot corporate because railroad charters
do not authorize roads TO form corporations or
associations to fix rates for services and wages,
nor TO force their acceptance. nor TO battle
with strikers. 1t Is usurpatiOn OF power not
granted. II such an association is necessary
from business or economic standpoint the
right to form and maintain 1t must come from
the State that granted its charter. In theory
corporations are limited TO The powers granted
either directly or by clear inference We do not
think the power has been granted in either way
I'm this case. The association is an Illustration
of persistent and shrewdly distinguished plan
OF corporations TO overre ch their limitations
and TO usur indirectly powers and rights not
concentrated in their charters and not obtain
able from lhe people or their legislatures. An
extension OF this association. as above sug-
gested. and The proposed legalization of pool
lng," would result in an aggregation of power
and capital dangerous 10 The people and their