Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-27
THE ANTI-RATE WAR
CAUSES GREAT EXCITEMENT
AMONG TIE MIGRANTS.
Cutting Of Prices Bringing an Unde-
sirable Glass Of People to
This Country.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
ANTWERP June g. 1904.
Great ia the excitement among the emf
grants In Europe over the ''rate-war which
is being waged in England by the trans
atlantic shipping companies. Prices for
steerage accommodation have been slashed
from $35 to $40. and now or never seems
to be the cry of the emigrants. II the war
continues, last years enormous total OF
02l,3 15 immigrants into the United States
will be far exceeded this year.
The so-called invasion by the Cunard
Line Of what was considered as the exciu-
sive territory Of the continental transat-
lantic shipping companies Is now an old
story. but this has led to the present cut
ting OF prices. 1t is. briefly, a war between
the Cunard Line and the Morgan shipping
combine. and there is good reason to be-
, Heve that the British and Austrian govern
ments are standing back Of the Cunard
Line.
So far the war has only affected emil
grants in England. but the alien population
there Is so large, and the facilities for
reaching that country are so plentiful, that
a great stream Of emigration Is not only
to which this rate war especially appeals Is.
unfortunately for the United States, the
most undesirable. being in large measure
the outcasts and paupers of the world.
eastern and southeast Europe have OF
late years sent ever-increasing numbers to
the United States. and this cheap rate will
undoubtedly accelerate the movement
Liverpool and other large cities In Eng
iand are already beginning to rejoice at the
prospective outpourtng OF aliens from their
MIDST. since 1t will effect, 1t is believed q
very great saving in civic expenditures.
Even II the emigrants are refused admis-
a I'D ox~k1
q good number Of cases, 1t fs not consider
ed likely that they will find their way back
TO the towns whence they started but will
De scattered at various seaports on the
northern coast of Europe.
The attractiveness Of this rate war to the
emigrant Is apparent when one considers
that for the trif1ing sum of $40 the emf
grants are not only carried across the At
iantfc on magnificent steamers and fed for
nine days. but they are, first Of ALL also
brought from London to Rotterdam for the
toAa d-American Line. or to Antwerp for
the Red Star Line steamers
Two hundred and fifty emIgrants from
ENGLAND availed themselves Of this rate
and were shipped from London to Rotter-
Dam. and thence to New York by the II 800
Ton steamer r. Potsdam Of the Holland
came to Antwerp and sailed by the Red
Star steamer Kroonland on the same
day.
The American Line which Is also In tho
Morgan shipping combine. has also de-
clared war. At the London offices OF the
company there was great rush of ap-
plicants and on last Saturday the Phila-
delphia sailed with over TOO of these pay
ing guests.
At the offices of the Red Star Line in
this city there is outward sign OF
the rate war. and inquiry discloses' the
fact that the officials, from the highest
down, are under instructions not to dis
cuss the matter for publication. Intending
emigrants are informed that the rate for
173 francs ($35.O0), but as the fare from
here to London Is at the most only a mat
ter of three or four dollars, 1t is a simple
matter for them to go on and book there.
and II they do so at the Red Star Line
their passage back to Antwerp Is paid by
the company.
Every Saturday one OF the fine Red Star
fleet leaves here for New York. These
vessels are among the finest af1oat. being
thoroughly modern in every respect, and
their powerful engines enable them to
make the actual ocean passage in III days.
Streams Of Emigrants.
Every Friday the stream of emigrants
for these vessels begins to pour into the
city. and 1t Is a strange sight to see the
travel-stained. dirty and often poverty
stricken looking crowd making It's way to
the offices of the steamship company or to
the huge hotels boarding houses that
accommodate them along the water front
Their baggage IS often pathetically limited
and packed in the humblest fashion. Sacks
and bags seem the popular mode while
baskets and odd little boxes or chests are
often seen.
These emigrants come from all parts of
Europe. In 1902 (the last year for which
statistics are available). SO. 452 emigrants
sailed from this port for the United States,
and out OF this number only 1874. or
per cent, were Belgians. the great bulk
being Russians Poles. Austrians. Italians.
10 oto In n
of Europe the steamship companies now
have agents to attend to their emigration
business. and in the rural districts are busy
agents who tell the country folk glowing
tales of life in the United States. By their
persuasion, and under their guidance, par
ties are then made up and escorted to the
port OF embarkment.
The medical examination of the emigrants
at this port is in no way conducted or
even supervised by the medical officers OF
our government. but solely by the omcials
of the steamship company. who. recogniz-
ing the danger Of having to return at their
own expense any persons. rejected by the
authorities at Ellis Island. are most thor
ough in their work. Some years ago &
member of the United States Marine Hos
pital service was stationed here, but so
much friction arose with the Belgian
authorities that 1t was not deemed wise to
continue the assignment.
A very difficult question is the ascertain
ing whether or not emigrant should be
excluded on the moral grounds specified by
the United States emigration act. Thou
sands Of miles from home, the emigrant
can often masquerade as he pleases. Our
government does not require that any for
eigner shall possess passport, but 1t
would seem a prudent measure to insist
on the production of some certificate from
the authorities, civil or religious. at their
last residence as to their character or
previous manner of life. This would be a
safeguard against criminals and anarch-
lists.
Last Saturday the iceland. one OF the
fine Red Star liners. sailed for New York
and the scene on the wharf as the time Of
departure drew near was most interesting.
The vessel was gay with flags, and crowd
ed with passengers and their friends. The
hustle and noise OF swinging the baggage
aboard and the hubbub of many voices
was drowned in the martial strains of
Sousa's music, played by the ships band.
Forward. in the bows of the ship. were
the male steerage passengers. crowding the
deck in a solid mass, while aft the women
and married couples were closely packed.
Their quarters were bright and airy and
all on board seemed gay and happy.
On the wharf, however, were many pa
thetic incidents There. sobbing piteously.
was lad twelve or fifteen years of age;
he alone of all the family had failed to