The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-14

but he continued and soon was insult Ing her. The girl. weakened by sea sickness, defended herself as best she could, but soon was struggling to get out of the mans arms. Just then other passengers entered and he released her.
 T cannot say that any woman lost her virtue on this passage. but in mak- Ing free with the women. the men of the crew went as far as possible with out exposing themselves to the danger of punishment But this limit is no doubt frequently overstepped. Several of the crew told me that many of them marry girls from the steerage. When insinuated that they could scarcely become well enough acquainted to marry during the passage. the answer was that the acquaintance had already gone so far that marriage was impera- tive"
 The writer tells of repelling advances on the part of the crew and steward with a hard. unexpected blow on tho ofrender's face. She says:
 The manner In which the sailors, stewards, fremen and others mingled with the passengers were thoroughly revolting. Their language and their topics of conversation were vile. Their comments about the women, and made In their presence, were coarse. What was far worse. and of continued occur renee. was their handling of the women and girls"
 Concerning other conditions ins the old type steerage, which still exists on many of the steamships. the agent of the commission are just as severed In the introduction to the report. 1t is stated: s
 Regard Humans as Freight
 ''The universal human needs of space, air, food, sleep and privacy are recog- nized to the degree now made compul- sory by law. Beyond that the persons carried are looked upon as so much freight. with mere transportation as their only due.''
 The sleeping quarters are described as being in many cases filthy, inade- quate and all that Is bad.
 Good conditions are described in con nection with Investigations of some steamships and 1t is declared that com petition was the most forcefuI influ- ence that led to the development of the improved type of steerages
 Under existing conditions on some of the steamships. where the old type steerage prevails. the report says 1t is impossible for a woman to keep even reasonably clean. Of this condition one agent says:
 'No woman with the smallest degree of modesty, and with no other convent ences than wash room, used Jointly with men, and a faucet of cold salt water. can keep clean amidst such sur roundings for period of twelve days and more. It was forbidden to bring water for washing purposes into the sleeping compartments. nor was there anything in which to bring 1t. On diff ferent occasions some of the women rose early, brought drinking water In their pails and thus tried to wash themselves effectively. but were driven out when detected by steward. oth- CTS resorting to extreme measures used night chambers, which they carry with them for the children. as wash basins. This was done a great deal when preparation was being made for landing. Even hair was washed with these vessels. No soap and no towels were supplied"
 Senator Dillingham;, chairman of the Immigration Commission, introduced in the Senate today two bills intended to correct much of the evils of which com. plaint is made.