New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-17
TILE PELLM1N CHARTER.

Tho Attorncv-C General Of Illinois feels that II
Is necessary to deny that in beginning legal pro-
cccdings for a revocation Of the charter OF INC
Pullman Company he Is influenced by considera
tions arising out OF the recent labor contest
He asserts that he had made an investigation
and obtained the evidence on which he relies
before the Debs instruction broke out, ana
would have taken action several weeks ago IL
Chicago had not been a "sccthipg caldron III
that time. Mr.. Moloncy was Justified III sup
posing that his attempt to annul the Pullman
charter would be generally connected In the pup
lie mind with the failure OF the state govern
ment OF which Altgeld IS the head to annul the
authority Of the United States. II might ID"
rash to say that he has entirely removed thht
natural suspicion. Indeed, we think 1t safe 10
assume that sensible persons will continue To
believe that resentment against Mr.. Pullman
rather than stern sense Of official duty IN
spired these proceedings. even though they may
have been contemplated long ago as last
May.
During the recent reign Of violence there was
little occasion to discuss the methods and opera
tons Of the Pullman Company. From the mo-
mcnt when Dcbs declared war on the people OF
the United States. their laws and institutions,
the real or imaginary grievances Of Pullman
employees had nothing 10 do with the question
suddenly submitted for settlement. The SUI
premacy Of lawful authority and the prcserva-
tion Of the public peace constituted the issue
which was finally decided against Debs and his
allies. including the Governor Of Illinois. Since
then reasonable discussion Of the original con
trovcrsy between the Pullman Company and i,s
employees has not been out Of order for those
who have cared To engage In II. We have held
no brief for the company AZ any time. and have
no desire 10 decide the technical questions In
VOWED in the present action for or against either
party. On the face OF IL. however. we must say
that II the Attorney General of Illinois has no
stronger arguments 10 produce In court than
have been produced In the preliminary proceed
lngs. he might have saved himself much trouble
and the State some expense by continuing 10
cherish his hostility 10 the company In private.
The animus Of the action which Mr.. Moloncy
asks permission 10 bring seems To be pretty nc
curaicly disclosed In his complaint that the
Pullman Company does not occupy the whole or
the building in Chicago which contains lis offices,
hut has the audacity Ia lease those parts of
IT which II does not require for It's own use. The
main stress ~ the Attorncy-Gcncrars petition.
however l. laid upon the fact that the com
pany beginning It's operations fourteen years
ago at a distance from Chicago. soon as pos
slblc created for lis employees and has since
maintained conditions Of unusual comfort sup
plying them with MI the neccssarics Of life and
with more advantages than they could have
obtained elsewhere or otherwise. That the main
features of the great establishment NJ Pullman
were originally essential to the carrying On If
the company'S business nj that point Is undis
untcd Whether ut any time since the begin |
ming and II so az what time. the continuation Of
the village settlement became violation Of the |
charter the courts will decide Re-
dual to its simplest terms. however. the Al !
torncy Generals complaint seems nj this stage |
Of the proceedings 10 be- that The company has |
not maintained Il common nuisance az the town |
II Pullman.