The St. Johns herald., 1890-10-09
HEDGED IN BY RULES.
Eome of the Tribu'atio-s Of Sleep-
 ing-Car Porters.
Queer Mandates and Regulations Issued by the Pullman and Wagner Com panEes-Ouestio tions Asked O. Men
 Seeking Employment.

Seeking Employment.
 The life of porter on a sleeping-car is usually pictured as one full of trials and tribulations, and his work &s lack ing sufficient remuneration. All this is in great measure true.
 Most men who enter into the duties of ''car-service man," as the porters are called, recognize that they are work ing for vast corporation, and t1c7 must exist strict system of discipline. It has been said that among the orders issued to the porters are those to wear clean, white linen, ''stand-up" collar5 and bright and clean uniforms. IhcT are furthermore forbidden to speak to the lady passengers, unless first spoken to. Tn other words, as one of them pat it: We are expected to dress like dudes, but not to act like them"
 4 Chicago News reporter spent some time the other day talking to few Pull man and Wagner porters. The men were not at all disposed to enumerate their little grievances. A railroad official remarked that it was because they did not have confidence in the in- terrogator's identity. 'They may think you are special agent, he said. ''Yes, we find lots of things that we are ordered to do unnecessary and not very pleasant" said one porter on vesti- buled St. Paul train, ''but it would not do for me to complain. The officials would find me out and tell me if l did not like the work to get out and make room for willing man."
 Superintendent Lincoln, of the oper- ating department of the Wagner Sleep ing-Car Company, was interviewed. He showed the reporter the printed instruc- tions issued to porters and conductors. They are almost identical, section after section, with those of the Pullman com pany. "A porter or conductor travels rough road to secure his position" said Mir. Lincoln. ''The number and nature of the questions asked the applicant very often startle the man. He must be able to read and write, to state his antecedents, education, physical condi- tion, names, addresses and businesses of each of his employers within five years at least, stating his position with each employer, and when and why he left the employ of each man. The applicant is also asked: Are you willing to go wherever sent% Are you in debt" Do you use intoxicating liquors? Do you ever play games of chance for money or gamble Tn any way? These are sample questions. A porter, when he is ac- 'cepted, is told his duties and supplied with badges, buttons and white jack 4,,,, weights, he must purchase. The porter is not asked to wear a white vest. That is portion of the conductors summer uniform. The vest in cold weather IS covered up by the coat, which is but toned clear to the top. A white stand ing-collar and flat scarf are demanded of the porters for the sake of having uni formity and preventing gaudy or sporty necl1wear. Tho shoes or boots must be kept polished, and our company prohibits the use of slippers st any time whilo on duty. The Pullman company allows it's portcrs to wear slippers, after all passengers have re- tired, or when lying at waiting point. Tho summer or lightweight uniforms are worn from Juno 1 until October 1. Porters arc requested to remove their caps when making up or put -gaway berthS or att nling to other si lar du ties. They are provided with white duck jacketsby thecomPany to be worn over the uniform while doing this work only, and tho porterS must see that they secure enough to have a clean one for each night, At no time while on duty is porter allowed to play cards or gamble. This seems like startling array of rules, but if the men arc will ing to do the work they are employed to perform they can not consistently com plain"
 ''IIave So1 any system of rewarding old and efficient men?'
 4s'Yes; they get the best 'runs,' like those to New York on the limited. We have porterS who commenced working for us fifteen years ago. They like the work, and, as said they get the pref erence of the best runs. These porters earn much moro than the conductors"
 Therc is ono thing which very often disgusts Pullman porter. His berth is supposed to be that in the smoking room, but should tho smolzing-room be SO44, uS 4AuS9 -OSthO uPpSA l. II that also is occupied, the porter must either remain awake or crawl up on the roof and sleep. Between the hours of ten D. n. and three a. m. the porter is monarch of. the car He can lie with one eye open and watch any number of passengers enter the car at a main station, but, though they call loudly for their berths, he never moves. It is his sleeping time, and the conductor must then make up bCrths,
 Villages Built in Trees.