Mr. Norton: "I do. After getting a letter from Superintendent Conlin I was barred out by Superintendent Dunlap who has just sworn he did not know me." Mr. Kernan: "Can you produce Mr. Fraser. We would like to hear his testimony?" Mr. Norton: "I will." Mr. Kernan: "Were you concerned in any violence during the strike?" Mr. Norton: "No." Mr. Kernan: "Are you an officer of the American Railway Union?" Mr. Norton: "Yes. I am president of local union No. 193." Mr. Gompers of the American Federation of Labor was next examined but refused to be sworn. Mr. Gompers went into the labor question in a general way. In reference to strikes, he said that so long as the present industrial and commercial systems last, so long will strikes continue. George M. Pullman, president of the Pullman company, was now before the commissioners. He submitted a lengthy statement in relation to the town of Pullman, and under examination he told of the increase of the Palace Car company from $1,000,000 to $36,000,000 and the accumulation of a cash surplus of $25,000,000. When questioned concerning the grievance of the employes, he was not so well posted. When asked by Mr. Wright if it was the practice of the company to reduce wages from time to time, he said: "I am not familiar with the details of the manufacturing department and must refer you to the second vice-president." Mr. Worthington: "Did you ever express any unwillingness to arbitrate?" Mr. Pullman: "I did express unwillingness and refer you to my published statements. I was aware of the losses of the company in paying the wages it did when contract prices were so low, and I knew it was impossible for the company to pay a higher scale. It was a question whether the shops should be closed, or secure work at a low figure. It was the principle involved in letting a third party determine how the company should transact its business." Mr. Worthington: "But you paid the usual dividend of eight per cent last year?" Mr. Pullman: "Yes. But the profit during the World's Fair helped out the amount." Mr. Worthington: "Now don't you think that the Pullman corporation which paid a dividend of $2,800,000 for the year just ended should have borne with the employes and shared its profits to some extent?" Mr. Pullman: "I don't see why we should take the money from the stockholders to pay a set of men higher wages because the manufacturing business paid well, to pay this money to men working at Pullman when the employes at Ludlow, Wilmington and St. Louis had no complaint to make. The efforts of the American Railway Union to call a strike there was a failure." Mr. Worthington: "Has the Pullman Company ever voluntarily raised wages?" Mr. Pullman: "No; but it always has paid fair wages." Mr. Worthington: "Now, Mr. Pullman, when you see the present unrest of labor, and the possible consequences, what objection had you to distributing a portion of the profits or increasing wages a little?"