Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-12-14
MATTER BROlIGHT TO
ATTENTION OF SENATE
Unfortunate People Are Regarded by
Steamship Companies Practically as
Freight and Women, Especially,
Have to Undergo viiest Treatment
at Hands of Ships Crews.
(By Associated Press).

WASHINGTON, ID. c.. Dec. ID
A report on steerage conditions based
on information CbtainKd by Cteciai
agents OIL the immigration commission
travelling as steerage passengers tn
different trans Atlantic steamers was
made pubic today through presEnta-
tion to the senate, with rec mmenda-
tions fer legislation to better condi-
tons Conditions found in many OF
these vessels are described as appall-
ing.
The general report of the comm s
sion contains the reports of individual
agents giving their experience on
beard steamships where they posed as
steerage. passengers. A woman agent
who was herself MS, iably .ncrited
and compelled TO Withstand repuhlve
privatiCns said:
During these twelve days in the
steerage | lived in a disorder and in
Surroundings that offended every
st nse. Only the fresh breeze from
the ssa overcame the sickening odcrs.
vffs--f1ngrage of the men. the
screams Ct the women defending
themselves, the crying of children,
wretched because Of their surround
.ngs. and practically every sound that
reached the ears irritated beyond en-
durance.
There was no sight before which
the eye did not prefer to close.
Everything Dirty and Disagreebale.
Everything was dirty. sticky and
disagr eeable TO the touch. Every I'M
preston was offensive. Wcrcss than
this. was the general air OF immoral
ity. For fiftsen hours each day
Witnessed all around me this improper.
indecent. and forced mingling CT men
and wCms n
The woman agent had told of the
mingling of the crew with the w-meh
OF the steerage and said that IT,
same conditions were true of the Gs-
scciation Of the men steeTage passen-
gers W tn the women.
Az nts of the immigration ccmmls-
sion say that on many of the steam
ships men stewards and members OF
the crew. as well as male steerage
pa.sengers. crowd into the coElfpart-
ments set aside for the women and
constantly Iass through the passage
ways of such compartments so mat
no woman in the storage had no
moments privacy"
Vile Treatment of Women.
Members Of the crew. says one
woman agent. never failed TO deal
woman passenger a blow when she
was found standing on the frame work
of a lever berth TO get in from an
MINER berth. II woman we've dress
ing they always STOPPED to watch her,
and fresus ntly nit and handled her.
One night the chief steerage stew
ard entered our compartment, but not
noticing me. approached Polish glri
who WIS appars ntIS the only 0ccu-
pant She spoke in Polish. saying:
NV head Schss. please go on and bet
me- alone But he continued anu
soon was insulting her. The girl
weakened BY sea sicknlfs. defended
h,rsru as best she could. but soCn
WIS struggling 10 get out q the man $
arms. lust then other PASS ngets en-
tered ana IL released hsr. Such was
the man who was cur highest p'o,ec-
tor and court Of APPEAL
Several OF the Csew told M thar
many Of them married girls from the
could scarcely become well enough ar
could scare " Jeoome well neuogh ac-
ors nted 70 marry during the pas
SAGE the arsxer was that the AZ
ouainfance had already gone so TT
that srarrisge was imperative
ReoeIIed Advances With Blows
The writer tells Ct repeliing al
v,nces on the part Of the crew ana
stewards with hard unfxpectet blow
IA .thr sFen6er's face. She says.
The manner in which the sailors.
stewards. drernen ard others mingled
with the wcmfu passengers vas thor
rrehlv revolving Their language and
n. topics q their conversation we
vile. Their comments about the Uon-
On and mad n their prcscnce were
c.arsc What vas far worse and Of
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