Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-12-14
Report to Senate Describes
Vile Surroundings Steerage
Passengers are Compelled to
Endure on Immigrant Vessels
LITTLE ATTEMPT TO
SEGGREGATE THE SEXES
Men and Women ,hntiSCrimi-
nateIy HuddIed Together in
NJ Smelling Quarters; Girls
'lted by Brutal Seamen,

hl6u ny Dl uldI O6dllltll,
fBy MorniIs rnai Special Leased wircl
Washington, ~ c., Dec. IA re-
port on steerage conditions based on
information obtained by special
agents of the immigration commission
travelling as steerage passengers on
different Transatlantic steamers, was
made public today through the pre-
scntation to the senate of recommen-
dations for legislation to better cons
ditions. Conditions found in many of
these vessels arc described as appall-
ing
The general report Of the commits
sion contains the reports of individ-
uals giving their experiences ON
board steamships where they posed
as steerage passengers y woman
agent who was insulted and compell-
cd to Withstand rcpulsivc priVaticus,
said:
During these twelve days in the
steeragc. | lived in disorder and in
surroundings that offended every
sonse Of decency. only the fresh
breeze from the sea oycrcalne the
sickening odors. The vile language
of the men. the screams of the Wom-
en- defending themselves, the crying
OF children, WletciIed because Of their
surroundings, every sound that reach
ed the ears irritated beyond endur
ance. There was no sight before
which the eye did not prefer to close
Everything was dirty, sticky and
disagreeable to the touch Every inn
preston was offensive Worse than
this was the general air OF immortality.
For fifteen hours each day | witness
cd all around me this improper. in
decent and forced minGling of men
and women, who were total strangers
and often did not understand one
word Of the same language. People
cannot live in such surroundings and
not be influenced"
The woman agent had told of the
mingling of the crew with women OF
the steeragc, and said the same was
true OF the men steerage passengers
with the women
Agents of the immigration commits
sion say that many steamship men, /
stewards and members of the crew as
wei as male steerage passengers, I
crowd into the compartments set aside
for the women and constantly pass
through the passage ways of such I
compartments. so that no woman in (
the steerage had moments pri- /
Vacy."
Members OF the crew said one /
woman agent never failed to deal a |
woman passenger n blow when she |
Was found standing on the framework |
of lower berth to get anything from
an upper berth. II Il woman was I
dressing they always stopped to watch I
her and frequently hit and handled /
her.
"One night. the chief steerage stew
ard entered our compartments and,
not noticing me. approached Polish
sirl who was apparently the only oc-
cupant. She spoke in Polish saying:
My head aches. please go on and let
me alone" but he continued and soon
was insulting her. The girl, weakened /
Dy 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."
The writer tells of repclling adj
Nances on the part of the crew and
stewards with n hard, unexpected
Dlow in the offenders face. She says;
The manner in which the sailors,
stewards, firemen and others mingled
with women passengers was thor
oushly revolving. Their language and
'he topics of their conversations were
vie. Their comments about the wom-
I'll and made in their presence were
coarse
Concerning other conditions in the
o'd type of steerage which still exists
"h many steamships, agents of the
commission are just as severe. In the
introduction TO the report it is stated
The universal needs OF space. air,
food. sleep and privacy are recog
h'1ed 10 the degree now made COM
Pnisory by law. Beyond that the
persons carried are looked upon as so
much freight with mere transporta-
uon as their only due"
The sleeping quarters are described
as being. In many eases. filthy, made
puate and all that is bad.
GOOD conditions are described in
connection with investigation of some
steamships. and Il is declared that
evinpetition was the most forceful in
-iuenee that led To the development
oi the improved type of steerage.
No woman with the smallest de-
gre Of mOdesty and with no other
,"hNeniences than "A wash room used
s"ahtiy with men and faucet of cold
''' water can keep clean amidst such