New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-15
SLFEPERS AND SNORERS.

7, "a announced that an earnest reformer OF
the Western school IS about to undertake the
abolition Of snoring in sleepng-cars by stat
utory enactment. The report comes from Nan
sas. and therefore il probably true. The Legs
lature of which the demand Will he made Is the
Legislature of Kansas, and therefore me Dill
Is likely to pass. Hence 1t Is not inopportune
10 consider the solid advantages or PROPOSE
ton which has the superficial merit or original
ity, and the question at once arises Whether or
not there is any constitutional obstacle IN the
way The first reflection OF almost any candld
thinker would probably be that the right 10
snore IL organic and inalenable, and that no
appellate court IN Ch:istendom would ever vent
ure 10 take a contrary view. There Is much
force in this contention, and at an earlier stage
in the progress Of Jurisprudence II might nave
prevailed. But In recent years the tendency OF
judicial decisions has been to extend the scope
Of what Is comprehensIyey defined as the po-
lice power and AT the present time 1t Is not safe
10 assign limits beyond which It may not be
stretched II is by no means incOnceivable,
therefore that should the Kansas Legislature
pass law FOR the regulation and progressive
determination OF snoring the courts OF Kansas
would uphold IT,
But there are other considerations which can
not be ignored in an intelligent and impartial
discussion OF this important subject In the
first place II is common experience that n
law unadvisedly passed In response 10 de-
mand for the suppression OF some particular ev'
frequently develops other offences. which In m"
aggregate may be more Grevous than the one
attacked The originator Of the scheme which
we now have under review proposes that rail-
roads and sleeping. car companies shall be com
PEELED 20 keep a sufficient number OF por'ers
constantly on guard 10 guarantee the immed-
ate awakening OF every snorer But ne does
no, appear 10 have made any provision what
soever against the Incidental consequences or
such a proceeding. and II in reality he is not
prepared 10 secure supplementary legislation
exactlv addressed thereto he would do well 90
pause where he is We deem II absolutely GER
tain for example. that unless the law against
profane swearing should be concurrently forti-
fed and made more easy OF execution, the en-
forcemcnt OF the law against snoring would
produce an uproar In comparison with which
! Tho loudest noise that ever proceeded from Il
defective breathing apparatus would seem Ike
primeval silence For Il has 10 be- considered
not only that no man was ever known 10 admit
that he was addicted 10 snoring and conse'
]
/ 20 that accusation would At once and indignant
| " deny Il. hut also that the most intelligent
porter would be liable 10 make mistakes.
! Furthermore. snoring Is not the only nuisance
10 which sleeping-cars are subject, nor indeed
! is II by common consent the worst Passengers
IN those Ingenious vehicles always have with
hem the wakefu traveller. who likes TO pass
the hours in conversation with the more or less
m W
wnnders up and down the aisle in costume
which would cause remark In the case OF n
person rescued In the dead Of nigAt from a
burning house; the infant that neither milk nor
paregorlc can lull into more than momentary
, silence and the woman who cannot be per
shaded by the oldest employe on the line that
the next station IS not hers. Then there Is the
company itself. with It's elaborate provision OF
annoyances-the porter who contrives To IND
vour shoes wherever You may hide them, and
applies to their immaculate surface duh paste
which he calls polish; the pillows which may BIZ
a safeguard against earache II accidentally car
rled away in the auricular cavity. but which are
not adapted TO any other conceivable purpose; th'
blankets Identical IN summer and winter. whose
weight IL like unto that OF chain armor ant
their hexibrlty TO that Of superior aspha
| pavement, the gas 1"t Wnlcn RlhreS through tn'
crevce Of the curtains whore the button came
off. and the steam pipe which is always stone
cold when 1t Is not red hot.
To discriminate in favor Of all these irrftn
lions by passing law against snoring woult
be. in DIR opinion. Illogical and mean Thu
philosophical traveller will prefer to continue t
get along as we'll MS he can, cheered by the re
Election that after all, sleeping gears are an enor
nous convenience; that on the whole, they ar
managed with remarkable skill, and that they
are constantly being made more safe and com
Portable.