The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-13
QUEER PHASE OF FIGHT
FOR EM|GRANT TRAFFIC
Another Hole in the German Drag.
net for Russians and AuStrlanS
Closed by Saxony.
GREEDY STEAMER LINES

BERLIN, Dec. 1.-THE competition for
the Russian emigrant traffic has assumed
a new phase The German steamship COM
panies, which have long enjoyed the pre-
dominant share of this traffic, have at last
succeeded in stopping one loop-hole through
which em;grants from the northern half
of the continent reached competing lines.
During the cholera outbreak of 1893 the
Prussan government became concerned on
account of the danger of infection and per-
suaded the North Germa Lloyd and Ham,
burg-American lines to undertake to pass
Russian emigrants through steam baths,
disinfect their belongings and agree to see
the emigrants across the or return them
to Russia or Austria as the case might be.
The arrangement proved mutually salts
factory. The companies expended millions
for so-called controlling stations" at
eleven of the principal ports on the eastern
frontier.
The stations now comprise baths, hos
pitfalls, steam cleaning and beds, lodging
barracks and administrative offices. All
emigrants, whether arriving by railroad or
on foot, with or without passports, are COM
PEELED by the police to stop at such sta
tons. The police have acquired rare skill
in recognizing emigrants. Unless the in
tending emigrants are able to satisfy the
agents of the German lines Of their ability
to pay their passage over the sea and, IL
going to the United States, to get through
the Ellis emigration station, they must
return whence they come. The companies,
naturally, have recognized the tickets OF
other companies reluctantly. If at all. the
arrangement with the government being
designed to secure them practical monop-
oily in return for their heavy expenditures.
The other companies never undertook to
c, mpete actively by sending agents to Rus
STA to drum up business but a considerable
portion of the emigrants were provided with
prepaid tickets from America, which often
read over the non-German lines.
The difficulties on this ground finally led
to contracts with the Red Star. Holland
American, White Star and American lines.
the German companies agreeing to give the
two former. their overflow. business during
the rush season and to recognize the White
Star line and American line prepaid tickets.
Until the present time Russian and Aus
TRAN emigra nts were able to pass through
Saxony, where no control stations had been
erected. iSaxony however, has just decided
to initiate the Prussian example of sealing
the eastern frontiers. except through the
North German Lloyd and Hamburg-Amer
lean Companies stations. The closure of
this hole in the German dragnet is occa-
sioning caustic comment on the part of the
competing companies. which demand the
German government adminiStrate the sta
tions impartially and recognize the tickets
of all companies. This, however, is not
likely to be done. the governments being
glad to get rid of the expense. Moreover, IL
is said that the present arrangements have
not led to a single complaint on the part
of the PruSSian government in years.