The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-04
RAILROAD NEWS.
Immigrant Abuse Story Pro-
duceS More DenialS.
Every Comfort Possible Is AID.
vanced by Various Roads.
so THE OFFICIALS SAY
Someone Accused of HOlleriRg"
for Political Effect.
Other Items of Interest to
Railway People.

Passenger officials of the trunk
lines continue to be much disturbed
about the investigation by the inter
state commission concerning the hand
ling of Immigrants. There are two
sides of the question" one of theIr
number said today and added; AN
isolated and aggravated case has been
brought up that is by--no means fair
showing of the methods prevailing
and conveys an entirely wrong impress
sion as to the consideration these peo-
pie receive from the railroads.
1.-THE idea conveyed that we are in
different as to their convenience and
comfort is misleading and unjust. Elk
animation of the general proposition
would prove entirely contrary cond1-
tions. We do everything possible to
have them taken care of. They never
have been so we'll taken care of nor
have had such attention since the So
called pool was established. If the
investigation is continued after July 1
q state of affairs will be brought out
that will not only confirm my state
ments, but will prove that someone
has put up 'holler' for political eff
feet.
There is one phase of this matter
that will never command popular IA
vor nor approval from the travelling
public. Suppose the government
should hold present methods or trans
porting immigrants to be a discrirnina-
ton and require that they be loaded
and unloaded where they would come
in close contact with the first class
passengers and compel US to carry
them on the first class trains? 1t is not
difficult to determine what the public
sentiment would be and the kind of
protests that we would receive. Even
one who has travelled first class on a
close companionship when he first
comes ashore. What, then, must be
the condition of those who have cross
ed in the steerage?
1T is only necessary to go into
coaches in which immigrants have
travelled, and before they have been
cleaned and fumigated, to appreciate
the force of what say. I apprehend,
itous about the immigrants would
have their notions materially modified
If they accompanied party of these
foreigners on their first railroad trip
after landing in some eastern port.
''Immigrants are not desirable trav-
cling companions. The general public
will not have them. They would new
er be tolerated in first-class coaches or
Pullmans, and the road that so han
died them would be certain to lose its
first class patronage. If there is ina
proper discrimination in rates, it can
be readily determined and rectified
without holding up the railroads as
guilty of practices suggestive of ham
ding immigrants like cattle, which is
neither true nor just.
1.-The commission has made other
inquiries in that way and why not give
us a square deal. on this immigrant
question instead of unfairly subject
ing us to obloquy and criticism for
supposititious inhumanity? Further
more this question involves a form of
5ustif1able discrimination that can be
sustained because it is Imperative for
the protection and comfort of first
class passengers"