The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1891-06-13
AEDGED IN BY L
como Of the Tribu!ations Of Sleep
tng-Car Portora

gacsr Mandates and Regulations Issued
by tho Pullman and Wagner Com.
panles-Questions Asked of Men
seeking Employment.
The lifo of a porter on a sleeping-car
IS usually pictured as one full OF trials
nd tribulations, and his work as lack
,rg sufficient remuneration. All this is
IA n great measure true.
Most men who enter into tho duties
( q "car-service man." as the portcrs
ire called, recognize that they arc work
ing for a vast corporation, and there
must exist a strict system Of discipline.
it has bccn said that among tho orders
ssued to the portcrs arc those to wear
lean, white linen, 'stand-up" collars
and bright and clean uniforms. They
arc furthermore forbidden to speak to
the lady passengers, unless first spoken
to. In other words, as one OF them put
it,: I'VE arc expected to dress INK
dudes, but not to act like them"
A Chicago News reporter spent some
inc the other day talking to a few Pull
nan and Wagner portcrs. Tho men
we're not at all disposed to cnumcrato
thcir little grievances. A railroad
official remarked that it was because
fhcy did not havo confidence in the in
.]crrogator's identity. "They may think
you are 4 special agent" he said. eyes,
ve find lots of things that we are
,rdcrcd to do unnecessary and not very
y~leasant," said ono porter on . vestl-
buled st. Paul train, ''but it would not
10 for mo to complain. The officials
would find me out md tell me if did
not like the work to got out and make
zoom for a willing man.
Superintendent Lincoln, Of tho oper-
ating department Of tho Wagner Sleep
ing-Car Company, was interviewed. Ho
showed tho reporter tho printed instruc-
lions issued to portcrs and conductors.
They arc almost identical, section after
section, with those of the Pullman COM.
Tan GA porter or conductor travels q
rough road to secure his position" said
fIr. Lincoln. ''The number and nature
Of the questions asked the applicant
very often startle tho man. He must
10 able to cad and write, to state his
An~teccdents, education, physical condi-
ton, names, addresses and businesses OF
each CT his employers within five years
1T least, stating his position with each
employer, and when and why he left tho
employ OF each man. Tho applicant is
.lso asked: Are you willing to 60
wherever scnt??' Are you in debt" DO
uso intoxicating liquors" DO you
ovor play games OF chanco for money or
gamble IN any way?' These arc sample
questions. A porter, when he Is &C
ceptcd, is told his duties and supplied
with badges, buttons and white jack
OTIS. The uniforms, summer and wintor
weights, he must purchase. The porter
is not asked to wear a white vest. That
is a portion of the conductors summer
uniform. Tho vest in cold weather IS
covered up by the coat, which is but
toned clear to tho top. A white stand
inR-collar and fiat scarf arc demanded OF
the porters for the sake OF having uni
fornlity and preventing gaudy or
sporty ncckwcar. Tho shoes or boots
must be kept polished, and IL rcompany
prohibits the use of slippers at any
time while OF duty. The Pullman
company allows its portcrs to wear
slippers, after all passengers have re-
tired, or when lying at y waiting point.
The summer or lightweight uniforms
are worn from Juno 1 until October 1.
Porters are requested to remove their
caps when making up or putting away
berths or attending to other SIMILAR du-
ties. They arc provided with white
duck Jackets by tho accompany to be worn
over the uniform while doing this work
only, and the portcrs must sec that
they secure enough to have a clean one
for each night. At no time while on
duty is a porter allowed to play cards OF
gamble. This seems like u startling
array of rules, but if tho men arc will
ing to do the work they arc employed tc
perform they can not consistently COM.
plain"
35Ss'Have YOU any system of r%ewarding
old and efficient mcn?"
eyes; they got the best 'runs,' like
those to New York on the limited. We
have porters who commenced working
for US fifteen years ago. Thoy like the
work, and, as I said, they get the pref
i erence of the best ms These porters
/ earn much more than the conductors
There is n thing which very often
disgusts a Pullman porter. His berth
IDS supposed to be that in the smoking.
&.room, but should the smoking-room be
als4sold,' no must take upper L." II
that also is occupied, the porter must
either remain awake or crawl up On the
.roof and sleep. Between the hours OF
ton p. m. and three a. M. the porter is
monarch of the car. He can lie with
one eye open and watch any number Of
passengers entsr the car at a mail
station, but, though they call loudly
for their bcrths, he mover moves. 1t is
his sleeping time, and the conductor
must then make up berths.
Villages Built In Trees.
People who live in trees or employ
Them as places of refuge arc apt to be
particularly miserable specimens of the
human family, for their choice of . home