Gilpin observer., 1909-12-16
HORRORS OF THE
SHIP STEERACE
PASSENGERS SUBJECTED TO UN.
CLEAN. INDECENT AND I'M.
MORAL CONDITIONS.
NO RIvACY FOR WOMEN
REPORTS OF AGENTS OF IMMl.
GRAFTON COMMISSION STIR
UP THE SENATE.

Washington.-A report on steerage
conditions, based on information OBJ
tanned by special agents of the Immi-
grafton Commission travelling as steer
age passengers on different transat-
lantic steamers, was made public on
Monday through presentation to the
Senate with recommendations for leg
islation to better conditions.
Conditions found in many Of these
vessels are described as appalling.
Senator Dillingham;, chairman of the
Immigration Commission, introduced
in the Senate two bills intended to
correct much of the evil of which the
complaint is made.
/ The general report of the commits
sion contains the reports of individ-
uals, giving their experiences on
board the steamships, where they
posed as steerage passengers.
A woman who was herself miser-
ably insulted and compelled to with
stand repulsive privations, said:
During these twelve days in the
steerage l lived in a disorder and in
surroundings that offended every
sense. Only the fresh breezes from
the sea overcame the sickening odors.
The vile language of the men, the
screams of the women defending
themselves, the crying of children
wretched because of their surround
ings, especially, every sound that
reached the ears, irritated beyond en-
durance. There was no sight before
which the eye did not prefer to close.
Everything was dirty, sticky, and
disagreeable to the touch. Every i'm
preston was offensive.
Worse than all this was the gen.
eral aid to immortality. For fifteen
hours each day witnessed all
around me this improper. indecent
and forced mingling of men and wom-
en- who were total strangers and often
did not understand one word of the
same language. People cannot live
in such surroundings and not be in
fluenced."
The woman agent had told of the
mingling of the crew with the women
OF the steerage and said the same
was true of the men steerage passen-
gers with the women.
Agents of the immigration Commis-
sion say that on many of the steam
ships men stewards and members of
the crew as well as n lie steerage pas
sengers crowd into the compartments
set aside for the women and constant
ly pass through the passageways of
such 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 blow when she
was found standing on the framework
of a lower berth TO get anything from
an upper berth. If a woman was
dressing they always stopped to watch
her-and frequently hit and handled
her.
"One night the chief steerage stew.
ara entered our compartments, Dut
not noticing me. approached a Polish
girl who was, apparently, the only oc
cupant. She spoke in Polish, saying
My head aches; please go and let me
alone" But he continued. and soon
was insulting her. The girl, weak
ened by seasickness, defended herself
as best she could, but soon was strug
Cling to get out of the mans arms
Just then other passengers entered
and he released her"
The writer tells of repelllng ad
vances on the part of the crew and
stewards with hard, unexpected
blow in the offenders face. She says
The manner in which the sailors
stewards, firenen and others mingled
with the women passengers was thor
oughly revolving. Their language and
the topics of their conversation were
vile. Their comments about the WON
en- and made in their presence. wer
coarse"