The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-12-15
Woman Describes Horrors
on Ocean Liners.
REPORT SENT TO CONGRESS.
immigration Commission Recon-
mends That Law Be Passed to
Station Women Government
Agents on Liners.


steerage conditions on transatlantic
liners are described in a report sent to
congress by the immigration commits
sion, and effective remedial legislation
Is recommended.
The commission transmits the re-
ports of twelve women agents giving
their experiences on board steamships
when they posed as steerage passen-
gers. Summing up one such trip, a
woman agent Of the immigration COM
mission who was insulted and COM
PEELED to undergo privations which
were repulsiye to her nature said:
During these twelve days in the
steerage lived in disorder and in sur
roundings that offended every sense.
The vile language Of the men, the
screams of the women defending
themselves, the crying Of children
wretched because of their surround
ings, irritated beyond endurance.
Everything was dirty, sticky and
disagreeable to the touch Every i'm
preston was offensive.
For fifteen hours each day l wit
messed all around me improper, inde-
cent and forced mingling of men and
women. People cannot live in such
surroundings and not be Influenced"
The report says that on many of the
steamships men stewards and men,
bers of the crew as well as male steer
age passengers crowd into the COM
partments set aside for women and
constantly pass through the passage
way of such compartments, SO that no
woman in the steerage "had mo-
ment's privacy"
During the hour preceding the break
fast bell, while the women were rising
and dressing, several men usually pass
ed through and returned for no ostensi-
BILE reasons.
members of the crew." says one
woman agent, "never failed to deal a
woman passenger blow when she
was found standing on the framework
of lower berth to get anything from
! an upper berth.
"In making free with the women
the men of the crew went as far as
possible without exposing themselves
to the danger of punishment"
The report says of one voyage that
not one young woman in the steerage
escaped insult The writer herself was
no exception and tells Of repelling ad-
vances on the part of members of the
crew and stewards with blows in the
offenders faces.
"The manner" she says, Gin which
the sailors, stewards, firemen and 9th
lad 10
gers was thoroughly revolving. Their
language and the topics of their con-
versation were vile. Their comments
about the women made in their pres
ence were coarse. Some of the crey
were always on deck and took all man
ner of liberties with the women in
broad daylight as well as after dark"
"The universal human needs of
space, air, food, sleep and privacy are
recognized to the degree now made
compulsory by law" says the commits
sion. Beyond that the persons car
ried 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, made
quate and all that is bad.
1t is urged that statute be imme-
diately enacted providing for the plac-
ing of women government agents in
disguise on vessels carrying third class
and steerage passengers, the expense
to be borne by the steamship compa-
MES.
Senator Dillingham;, chairman of the
immigration commission, introduced In
the senate two bills intended to correct
much of the evil of which complaint
is made.
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