The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-17
Pullman POrterS
How They are Selected and
What Their Duties Are.

The travelling public is well acquaint-
ed with the colored porter as he appears
in his welI-trained capacity on the Pull
man or Wagner palace car; but if it had
the inclination or time to gain entrance
10 his confidence, 1t would discover many
things of interest in what seems a pro-
sale enough life, and would not infre-
quently find an individuality Of uncom-
mon mould, says the New York Evening
Post. His character has been developed
by q special process. He is a distinc-
tive type among his own people They
recognize it, appreciate its import, and
many OF them aspire 70 be some day
a Pullman or Wagner porter. They
know he must be a nan Of intelligence,
efficiency and trustworthiness. II por-
Ter be lacking in any Of these qualities
he cannot remain in the service; II is a
sure mark that he possesses all Of them
if he is retained. 1t Is difficult 10 get
into the service. although al! who can
bring references for the previous ave
years may Try. After spending five years
In 1t the colOred porter has rarely been
known to leave il voluntarily unless
sickness compelled him 10. He IS con-
tented because he IS successful, and,
aside from that, because ne IS well paid.
well fed, well housed ard wei treated.
In support Of this las, assertion may be
mentioned the fact that the records
show no voluntary departures from the
service after five years other than for
reasons OF iIl-health.
The Pullman porter is essentially a pro-
duct OF the last half Of the nineteenth
century. The sleeping car created his
class less than forty years ago, since
when it has Increased numerically from
single individual to near.y 400. The
modern palace on wheels, for the con
tenss Of which the porter is held re-
sponsibIe, costs from $4,000 to $l8,O00. To
become its housekeeper Is the ambitious
dream Of many an American negro
An applicants references, even when
bearing the names Of the best known
people. are not accepted as final. They
are Investigated, either in person or by
letter. This precaution IS made neces-
sary from the fact that often an en-
plCyer TO De pleasantly rid OF a servant
saws only the nice things about him,
Withholding that information which is Of
most value 10 the officials of the COM
pauy. II the recommendations are found
10 be satisfactory, the applicant is put
On trial An order IS given him for
uniform. This costs $3.50, and ne must
pay for il himself. IL is subject 10 in
spection once a month, and may be con-
demned by the inspector.
While waiting for his new regalia, the
novice applies himself 10 the study Of the
book Of rules and regulations, and be-
tween times. whenever possible, works in
the yard with the old porters who are
getting their cars ready for the road
When he dons mis- new uniform he is
ready for the road. Under the instruc-
ton Of the porter and the conductor he /
does ali the work. After he has mastered /
this, the company takes him in hand TO 7.
see how much of the book rules and reg
ulations he has memorized. What ap- .
pears vague 10 him is explained until he .
thoroughly comprehends. Then he is
given another chance to read and re-
member, and yet another if by this time
he has made intelligent progress. Care
fully, section Dy section are gone over IN
til all are mastered. -Four times a year
district school is held in the various
districts into which the road is divided
and here both conductors and porters-
VINO have separate Lass5s-are examined
IL the book OF rules and regulations. In
preparation for these examinations they
5-Lsh 10 their memory il rides they
mI5hJ otherwise forget and usually they
pass the school examination creditably.
II within six months after the porter
has been established in his position the
-
traits, leniency may be shown with the
fist offence, out one repetition means q
summary discharge. Every encourage
ment is held out to him to be d good
man. As mark of faithful service he
has a stripe put on his coat sleeve after
ne has been in the employ of the com
pany for i've years, and one every five
years thereafter. There are some en-
ployes wearing as many as SIX stripes.
denotilg over thirty years Of service, and
five and four stripes are not uncommon.
The reason they are not more common is
simply because but few porters fifteen or
twenty years ago were employed or need
ed, and the eniarge1 system which
brought so many into the service is not
yet old enough 10 give the coveted badge
OF long years Of faithful work. Every
year after the first I'VE all porters are
presented with uniform free as another
incentive TO remain and be faithful.
What is known as the Brown system
OF discipline has been adopted by the
sleeping car companies. They carry
debit and credit account. the infractiou
q various rules being punished in pro-
portion 10 their Importance by marks Of
demerit. The porter who receives the
least number Of dement's at the end 81
the month has a proportionately fine rec
ord A glance over the books plainly SETS
forth the sins OF commonest occurrence
IL fact, the accounts OF some are entire
y made up of sins OF commission and
omission. The superintendent shakes his
head dolefUIly at the prospects Of these
chronic culprits. when month after month
there Is not only little trace Of improve
nent, but repetition Of past errors upon
which they had been instructed. The
srring porter at the next ensuing school
IS catechised on the questions in which
he apparently needs enlightenment, and
(. after TWO or three successive
schools" he stil displays no improve
nent in memory, he is discharged. An :
when he does not know. is on
he car may be. or an official Of the road. g
y conductor is bound. when he OBJ +,
serves q breach Of rules. 10 send in a Z
'eport. Passengers. 100, frequently re-
,ort inciviiJies. In the first place. the .
,fficial who employs the porter takes the
measurements Of his man ,
,-etty accurately, and a surly or quick =
ernDered man is not dealt with az al / r