The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-02-06
SIXTY FOUR CENTS A DAY
is WHAT PULLMAN WOULD PAY
EIGHT HOURS.
Men Are Numbered Like Prisoners
In the siberian Mines of
Russia.

John w. Herman, a tinsmith employed
by the Pullman Palace Car Company al
Pullman, is on strike because Of a reduc-
ton Of nearly 60 per cent in his wages.
While he is not the only employe who
says he has had his wages cut more than
half, he is the only one who has so far
| revolted. After working AZ hours on two
cars, for which he had always received 20
| cents OF more an hour, he learned that
he would only be paid fraction over
eight cents an hour. He Immediately quit
work and was given a check for the
money due him. This he refused. Today
he said he would protest to Mr.. Pullman,
and If he received no satisfaction he
would enter suit for the money.
In the Pullman shops, where the work
men are all tagged, Herman has been
known as No. 25O9. He is a German and
l is regarded as first class workman. He
| first began work at the Pullman shops in
| 1884 During his entire employment at
| Pullman he claims he never earned less
| than 20 cents an hour, except for the first
| two weeks, when he earned only IS cents
an hour. He has q. number of time books
which he submits as proof Of his state
ments When the shops shut down he
moved away from Pullman, but returned
| to work November II.
| On November % Herman and three fell
low workmen completed placing tin roofs
on two cars. 1t was very particular work
| ana had to be done by good worlzmen.
His companions are known as Nos. ISL,
2567 and 2524. They had each worked a
different number of hours, but the total
| footed up 145. For this they were to re-
ceive S127O, divided as follows: No. ISL,
As hours, 1894; No. 1857, As hours, 1894; No.
2524, Is hours, $.S2; No. 25O9, CHerman),
$3.50. Herman had worked 40 hours. When
he learned the amount he was to receive
| he protested.
II went to Mr.. Butcher, the head book
| keeper, and told him l wanted an hon
est mans wages. He sent me to Assist
ant Manager Well, and 1 aslieu the latter
if eight cents an hour was the prosperity
that he had promised us after the cleo
ton. He said that Joseph Frumfeller, the
foreman of the timing department, had
informed him that one man had earned e
cents an hour at the same work. 1 showed
him that was impossible and then he sent
out for the books to prove it. He asked
me to retire until he and Frumfeller made
an investigation. They called me in in a
ed that one man had earned q cents an
hour and another II. They did not let me
see the books. When L still protested
they held another star chamber session
over the books and made the same claims
when they called me in again. refused
to take the check offered me, as So an
hour is starvation wages. If they do not
pay me just wages before tonight 1 will
call on Mr. Pullman tomorrow and tell
my story. II he gives me no satisfaction
1 will sue the company.
Just think OF those wages. had five
days work a week. At o'clock Monday
morning 1 left home and walked to the
foot of Randolph street in order to save
street car fare. OF course / could not
walk to Pullman, and that cost me IL
cents each way. 1 came home every Sat
urday and stayed over Sunday. No. 2571
one of the workmen who suffered the
same reduction as myself, rents from the
Pullman company. He pays $1.6O rent
He is also paying 81 every pay day fol-
rent accumulated during the big strike
and owes $2O."
Herman showed by the book kept by
himself that he had always earned q
cents or more an hour for the same work
For putting roof on the car Tangier
he and three others, including No. 2567
received $40 for 80 'urs' work. On the
Bremen, on which No. 25n was also EN-.
ployed, they received 1920 for less thar
45 hours work.
1.-The other men live in Pullman hous.
es." continued Herman, land 1t is impos'
sible for them to throw up their jobs. Oi
course, will have to move to Pullman il
1 go back to work there, but don't see
how / can.
I'VE are too poor to buy bread now, anc
it would be long time before 1 coulC
save enough out of IS cents a day fol
moving my family and household furni
ture 70 Pullman"
The Hermans live in the basement o
two-story cottage at 1853 Hudson avenue
| In the kitchen was small fire, arounC
which their four children huddled to keel
! warm. Although Herman has lost Httl'
time, his wages have been so small tina
he has found Il. difficult to make both end
meet. After raging his board at Pullman
for five days and car fare both ways
there was nothing left for his family. Ill
finished the interview by asking;
DO you think any man should ask
skilled mechanic to work for s% cents al
hour?''