The sun., 1890-11-23
CLOSE THE UPPER RERTHS.
Reform Which All Travellers on Sleep
Ing Cars Will Ead0rse.

Other States will soon DO urged to follow the
example OF Minnesota in compelling tho sleep
ing ear companies to close the upper bsrt'Is Of
their cars when they are not occupied. This s
u matter which has long been n peculiar aggrn-
vation to travellers. On tho average lho upper
berths In sleeping cars are not occupied half
tho time. but 1t has been the invarinblo rule.
until he Minnesota Supreme Court recently
made that State m exception. for tho car
porter to fasten down tho cover OF tho box
which holds tho lower berth passenger. unless
no is willing to pay double prico for his accom-
modations. The fortunate traveller in n car
which In the course OF the night cntors tho
State of Minnesota now enjoys grudginHlv-
Hl'on ventilation und comfort as soon as tho
line is crossed
Tho reform in Minnesota wns accom-
plished by, an order of the state Board OF
liailroad Commissioners. The railroad or
snepinG car cnmpnni,s rebeiloI. but the Su-
rule Is now strictly enforced. There is. of
course. only one opinion about tho matter on
weakly defended The sleeping ear compani"s
say On Sap na. tG"t @n nns Hs rh
the real reason lOr shutting IN the lower berth
PASSENGER Is t. induce such ns are nbio to do
comfort which more air and room VIII yield
II everybody got ths, Ervilego free, sub.
s. by sale Of
entire sections to stnge passengers would
practically cease and M uppr'ciabl. source II
income would 10 cut OIL, = here i small prof
its. almost mono AT nll the shopping car owners
say IN running ear, with only tho lower h"rlhS
o cupod and paid tor. They nro compel IoL
howeyor. 10 rim slecping ears IN many lines
where upper borths are nevor occupied. To
compel u company 20 give u section to oNarY
purchaser OF lower berth on such II ino
would result In Il ioad loss IN operation. TITO
sleeping "nr propls admit, howeNe or, that q worry
smnl rroiori lon OF travellers buy whole See
room
The traveller who is shut into u box 6X2Xi
when he may Just ns well ENJOY tho comfort OF
lreo circulation Of mr. ahov" him, by no means
s"ns tho mntter n the same Hight as do tho
railroad companies. He is neodessly do
prlved OF phy steal comfort for II purpose that
mail II does MT cost the railronl company II
cont to xiv" him tho fresh mir which he Graves
To shy thnt he shall not have II Is precisely tho
Same aS il would bo for tho railroad company
l." ,ircrao that he shall not occupy n lull
doubl srnl In H. day coach when no ono calls
Ieiensible for railroad company TO require
tho pRtm"nt OF two fares for the use OF n
double sea, In The day tlmo. when car Is not
full. than 1t IL to daprive passenger oil uir and
space which are not In us" on II sleeping ear. In
the former case the passenger gets iust a.
INK slnRo scat rs hs docs in iilling double
one, But in the sleeping car no is deprived
nyotlessly OF a distinct elemcnt OF comfort and
safety as well.
1.-the Commercial Travellers A ssociaton and
other ORGANIZATIONS ol travelling men should
Boards OF Nailrond Commissioners, i.egisln-
tures, II necessary, the reform adopted BY Min
nesota might soon 10 extended over the rail-
road sy stems OF the whole country.