354 WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION

Mr. JExkins. On many of the eastern railroads, especially in the
old established sections of the country, the section men are among
the finest class in the community. They are industrious, own their
own homes, and are highly respected.
Mr. Stour. We have parts of the country in which the section men
are counted among the very best citizens. I do not have to apologize
for those men. .
Mr. ScuNEmpER. Members of your organization are generally
home men—they own their own homes and ive in the community,
bringing up and educating their family there. Is not that true?
Mr. Stour. Yes, sir; in 90 per cent of the cases.
Mr. ScenemEr. Does your organization know anything about the
methods by which the railroads secure this Mexican labor? The
Santa Fe has the Boland Employment Agency to furnish it Mexican
labor and the agency operates a commissary to take care of the needs
of those Mexicans. What does your organization know about that
method of getting those people here for that work, if anything?
Mr. Stout. I head that statement made a few days ago by a
representative of the Santa Fe, and I was going to suggest that this
committee call a representative of that Boland company and learn
just how the thing is manipulated. I believe that representative
said that this company supplied these men free of charge. Certainly,
there is some expense connected with that service and somebody is
paying the bill, and the fellow paying the bill is the fellow that is
getting the job.
Mr. Scunemper. This representative of the Santa F e explained how
the cost was met. The commissary was operated by the company I
nave named for the purpose of furnishing food and clothing to the
Mexicans, and a profit accrued from that service and it paid the company
 for gathering the Mexicans and bringing them to the jobs.
That being true, there naturally would be an incentive for the com.
pany to bring in as many Mexicans and have them employed in the
operation of this road as they possibly could.
Mr. Stour. That brings up the question of a boarding outfit.
{ have in mind a case I investigated on one of the transcontinental
lines which had a boarding outfit. One of the conditions under which
a man takes service with that company is that he will board with this
boarding and supply company. I was in Idaho doing a little work
{or our organization, and I met a bridge and building gang in a certain
town there. I went into their car about meal time io visit with them
and talk organization. I asked them where they lived and two or
three of them told me that they lived right there in that town. I
then expressed surprise that they did not go home for their dinner,
and they told me that they were required to eat with the outfit or
else they had to pay anyway. I asked them whether they could
go home at night and they replied in the affirmative, but they said
they were required to eat with the outfit, That illustrates how hard
a bargain is driven in dealing with these men.
Mr. ScuNeIDER. Besides the Boland agency, I understand there
are several other large companies engaged in the same business and
who compel these laborers they furnish to buy what they need from
and board with them