The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-25
4 TOWN WITH NO OWNER
Pullman, Illinois. Will Go Under
the Hammer.
TRANSACTION A FARCE
There Will b No Substantial Transfer
OF Titie-rhe Pullman Company
Must Go Out OF the Mu-
nicdpal Business.

When the town OF Pullman Is sold
under the hammer. as IL will be some
day IL the judgment of the Illinois SUI
preme court is maintained. the chanc-
es are the transaction will be a farce
SO far as any substantial transfer OF
title Is concerned
However, no matter what a be
the ultimate disposition of the real es-
tate. stock m side manufacturing
plants involved, the Pullman company
must go out of the business OF muni-
cipal government eventually.
The interests effected and the vital
principal of public policy at stake
makes the case Of the people OF Hi
nois against the seignoral avarice of
the great sleeping car monopoly one OF
the most important litigations OF the
period.
The accretions Of the Pullman COM
pany In property and schemes of profit
outside OF its legitimate field OF enter
prise as bounded by its franchise, dur
ing the 20 years Of its existence are
simply astounding. And even at that
all 10 not known. As e as can be
determined its illegal accumulations
amount to so, SIS, ssS. or this sum the
total OF the town Of Pullman valua-
lions IL $s.113. 766. while the stocks and
bonds In other corporations and the
realty in other cities owned by the
Pullman's Palace Car company repre-
sent Sll. 774.630.
Were the doctrine laid down by the
Illinois supreme court rigidly enforc-
ed some Of this hoard OF profit making
wealth would be c~oniscated. BY hook
or crook the company will fight. not
only to hold its own, but to persevere
In its ilegitimate enterprises. and such
are the sfnuosities OF the law and the
resources OF q great corporation that
4 $500. ~-a- all A..sA hAvArA
the victory won by the ex-attorney
general and his assistant. Judge SEQ
field. will bear practical results.
The town OF Pullman In an institu-
ton that has received considerable
praise from superficial critics of mu-
nicipal Affairs. Though an anomaly
under a democratic or. for that matter.
any modern form OF government. IL
was for years regarded a. a type of
communal existence promotive of the
happiness N conducive to the well
fare OF those who enjoyed IL. This
idea Of IL was ~dispelled as the town
grew and the actual motive OF Its
founder became unmarked.
Mr.. Pullman's purpose at the outset
IA have contained n large element
OF humanitarianfsm, but In later years
1t became glaringly apparent that the
town was a mere c~old-blooded business
investment. not authorized by law n
repugnant to public policy.
In fact. the municipal namesake of
the palace car millionaire. though IL
rounded out into a beautiful place. re-
vealed itself as a little oiigarchy pre-
sided over by the powers In the tall
brick building at the corner of Michi-
gan avenue and Adams street.
A population of $4,000 people. most
OF them engaged In the manufacturing
shops of the company. mad been drawn
1919. - sasAA A..2 80 HfA liz
erty and the pursuit OF happiness" nut
IL transpired that in matters of domes-
tic government or hon rule they rad
not even an echo of a voice. The Pull
man company exercised the functions
OF the government, and to HI exclu-
sion OF all possible competitors had
gone into the lucrative business OF sell
ing water, gas and other things COM
ing under the head of public necessar-
les. besides retaining title to all realty
and renting It at highly profitable
rates.
II was when this condition had be-
come g%rievous n the subject of COM
plant on the part OF those who consid-
cred themselves sufferers that the ex-
attorney general probed II and found
hat IL had no justifiable reason OF ex-
istence.
The legal principle invoked In the
litigation begun In 1896 against the
Pullman company scarcely could nave
greater force II allen investors. the
lords OF a monarchy, had secretly.
through American agents, founded a
fief in Illinois for purposes Of evenue.
Tn Pullman company was organised
m Incorporated in 1867. with q CAPT.
talization Of 800, 900. The Limitation OF
Its powers prescribed in sections 4 and
8 Of the Incorporation act include the
manufacture. purchase and sale OF
railway cars. with all convenient APP
p~endages and supplies for persons
travelling in them" the RICH,
to borrow money on deed OF
trust. mortgage or other Sc
curity, and TO acquire. hold or sell
sue real estate as may be deemed
necessary for the successful prosecution
OF this business"
nee OF the former attorney general II
is alleged hat these restrictions have
been violated in several ways. but par
ticularly by the purchase OF large
tracts OF real estate. comprising tbs
site OF Pullman. where II went into
industries and business not provided
for or contemplated In the act OF the
legislature incorporating the company,
The allegations as to the manner M
which the company has violated It's
privilege under the law. and not SUD-
stantially denied In the demurrer vi
the company. may be summarized az
follows:
1t has purchased large tracts OF real
estate within and adjoining to Chicago
and erected thereon churches. school
houses. a theater. a hotel. apartment
and dwelling houses. a a plant. a
water plant and other improvements
appertsining to the town named Pull.
man.
1t has established a plant for the
manufacture of brick.
IL annually realizes a large sum OF
money as rents and proits arising from
these properties.
II owns n operates the Hotel Flor
ence at Pullman and a saloon in con-
nection Herewith
II also owns and operates the local
theater and market hall.
Gas. steam heat and water II FUR