Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-07-02
AFTER Mr.. PuiLM IN.
Senator Sherman Intends 10 Make Him Give
Batter and Cheaper Service.

WASHINGTON, July There is an en-
tirely different side TO the Pullman ear
question here, which the Debs strikers will
probably seek TO turn TO their own advan-
tage. The Pullman question is before Con-
gress in a very different manner. II is un-
fortunate for the Pullman Car Company
that its methods of conducting It's business
should have been called 10 the attention of
Congress at this time; Snd thst this COM
pany should have so formidable an oppo-
nent as Senator Sherman of Ohio. Ii is
not TO be understood, however, that Mr..
Sherman's movement has any relation TO
the pencirg boycott and strike. II was in
itiated in the Senate before the strike be-
gan and it has been subject of serious
consideration by Mr.. Sherman for many
years. He proposes, in short, that the
Pullman Company shall be brought within
the provisions of the interstate commerce
act, and that Cor gresS shall enact law re-
curing thst corporation TO give the public
better accommodations at lower rates. He
would require the Pullman Company 10
keep the upper berth up if it is not sold !;
would reduce rates one-hslf.
This subject is one as TO which there is
very likely TO be unanimity of sentiment
in Congress, The Pullman Company has
so widely advertised its disposition to
charge extortionate rates and to refuse to
accommodate the pubic that, If MIR. Shcr-
man shall press his measure, that corpora
ton will find that it will not have a state
Legislature to deal with.
Senator Sherman, speaking of his resolu-
ZION directing the interstate commerce com
mittee to investigate the subject of rates
and regulations tor sleeping and parlur
cars, said today:
This matter has not reference whatever
to the strike that is now in progress III the
West. 1t is something that | have been
thinking about for long time, and | have
talked with my colleagues in the Senate
sufficiently to find that they are in hearty
sympathy with my effort to- cause reform
in the rates charged by the Pullman and
other sleeping car companies. | regard
these rates as simply infamous. II is out
rageous for us to be compelled to pay such
high prices for such poor accommodations
rs we receive in our trips to ani fro
throughout the country. They give YOU a
short, narrow berth, SO close and uncomf fort
able that in m8ny cases one would
rather sit up all night than submit
II YOU get a lower berth and no one has
ihe upper, the porter insists upon putting
down the lid and so increasing your misery
rather than giving you the benefit of the
sir. | do not know why this is so, unless
il is an effort on the part of the company to
make their prestige all the greater and the
more unendurable.
81 regard the Pullman Company and the
SHgar rrust as the most outrageous monop-
olies of the day. They make enormous
profits and give their patrons little or moth
ing in return in proportion. 1t is perfectly
clear to me that there is a way to reach the
sleeping car problem with ease through gov
eminent action. States have, in many in
stances, adop'ed regulations intended to
duce the evil of extortOnate charges on the
railroads, but there are few, if any rail
roads that run sleopers through but
one state, and thus these laws are of no
avail, for no state can regulate any corpo-
ration beyond its own limits.
"The United States can easily control
charges for sleepers, just as the railway
fares have been regulated by means of the
Interstate Commerce law. | believe that
that act has been amply enforced, without
very much trouble and can see no reason
why a similar act should not be passed
with reference to the sleeping car problem.
A bill of a dozen lines would suffice, Fl King
the rate per mile to be charged by these
companies, and proyiling a penalty for
overcharging.'