The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-06-15
WHERE EMiGRANTS LAND

Such small bit of land, scarcely six acres,
lying nearer the Jersey shore than Manhattan
Island, i'll the rear of Liberty island and about
two miles from the Battery, and yet the weary
feet of thousands upon thousands of the poor
and oppressed from the four quarters of the
globe crowd daily its little space and with won
dering ewes look up at the grand figure of
Liberty us she stands keeping guard near by
perhaps with visions OF hope and freedom in
their clouded brains and aching hearts. The
island has belonged to the government for
many years, but rs old historic Castle Gar
den could no longer receive the overwhelm-
ing crowds of immigrants it was utilized in
1891 us station for the enforcement of exist
ing Immigrant and contract labor laws.
This bureau of immigration is the largest in
the world, and its workings may be of interest
to those who have thought of the Importance
of our foreign immigration. At the beginning
of each week those ship companies whose YES
sells carry passengers regularly send statement
of all vessels expected 10y them to arrive during
the ensuing week. These lists are used for re-
ferences and as vessel arrives her name is
checked Off. The inspectors are stationed out
at quarantine and meet each incoming ship and
examine the manifests. They are required to
note all suspicious looking cases among steer
age passengers and if the case warrants, detain
and send over to the island for further exami-
nation any bin passengers. They are given
instructions as to expected law breakers of all
kinds, and to keep an eye on all manifestS.
American citizens, whether i'll steerage or Sec
Ond cabin. if they are really American citizens,
are allowed to land without going to Ellis is
land but us much fraud has been practiced, n
very strict proof is required that they really
sunrise to sunset, and must board every vessel
from foreign shore that touches American
shores ut New York harbor They must
have knowledge of foreign languages and act
as interpreters, accompanying the quarantine
officers to all boats, and in this way reach the
vessel WHICH they are to inspect and accompany
to dock. The boarding officers then take her,
receive and receipt the manifeStS. inspect and
examine steerage passengers and their bag
vessel Especially paid by the United t States
government for the purpose. On arrival they
are taken to the second floor where all pass
barcheaded before the surgeons and matronS
who carefully scan each person as he passes;
all have been disinfected at quarantine, but if
ut all suspicious from Il medical standpoint
they are put aside and then taken to private
room. If really diseased or sick they are sent
to the government hospital until well again,
when they take their examination. Those
in good health are sent to the registrars. Each
is closely questioned in his own tongue, accord
ing to law, as to his admission. If he does not
come under the inhibited classes, he is allowed
to pass out and go, but if under any of those
classes he is detained and sent into one of the
pens, as the high iron screened divisions are
called. If he be looking for friends, relatives
or money he is sent into the general detention
pen, and there kept at the steamship companyS
expense until such friend, relative or money
arrive. A pathetic sight i'll some instances, it
is i'll the general detention pen as they wait. A
sweet faced young German waits the coming
of her husband, who lives her address says. in
New York. \ telegram has been sent. She
has only been landed few hours, but she
watches every face that passes, with such anX-
iouS eyes. a blackeyed woman, over 90 neat
ly dressed, with large gold hoops in her ears
and black lace scarf on her jet black hair, is
quietly weeping-the commissioner kindly in
quircS. She can speak German little, shows
us IL bit of paper on which is written an IN
readable Russian name and the address, "155
Madison street, New York" 1t is her daugh-
ter's name; she had sent for her mother. Tele
grams are always sent by the registrar mme-
diately, but rs yet no answer has come and she
has waited two days and haunts the telegraph
office weeping and talking necessarily. The
nff n irla 81 nd
reaSsure her, but she begs, ''Oh, send for my
daughter to take me away. Oh. Sofie, come )"
Many of the immigrants have tickets for diff
fent points bought of the steamship com pany.
These are exchanged by the railroad company
over whose lines they travel and they are pur-
posely seen after until put aboard the train.
II they have no ticket they sold one the |
railroad companies pay for this privilege, but
are under the supervision of the commissioner
and are required at all times to be perfectly |
honest.
There were many groups ready to go, in most
instances well to do looking people. An intelli-
gent, thrifty family of Russians were going to
Dakota-one gold beaten, brother miller, |
the women and children hearty and seemingly
pleased with their new prospects, and they are
almost certain of success with good trades and
industry. A pretty young German with Il
baby in her arms, young sister with her. has
u ticket to join her husband in Hazelton, Pa,
and smiles us she passes on. One can fancy the
glad meeting. There has been falling OF of
125, 900 in the immigration during the past
year. Owing to cholera mostly, but partly to
the rigid enforcement of the contract labor
laws. Immigrants must be most rigidly queS-
toned on all points necessary for the protec-
ton of the laws. AS to destination, money on
hand, whether mining. manufacturing or COM
mercial town or city, farming community, oc-
cupation, to whom going, etc. Then by his re-
plies the registrar is able to determine whether
the immigrant is likely to be Il contract labor
er or not. If, under the laws, he is discharged
free to go and earn his living-if not he is de-
tanned until deported. Paupers. idiots and in
curables we cannot allow here. One can read
lily understand the vital Importance of rigid
enforcement of the Immigration laws and one
can form but slight idea of the immense
amount of work done by the bureau ut Ellis
island, showing in the last six months 900
deported under the contract labor law, against
less than that number for two years previous.
Italian immigration is most numerous at
present. next Poles and Russians, with a fall
ing OFF in English, Scandinavians and German
Some of the Italians seem thrifty and cleanly
the bad element not so numerous, the pad
rome system being in a measure better controll-
ed by the government.
A pale Greek featured elderly woman with
great sad eyes sat holding the hand of her son,
u young bright looking fellow. The interpre-
tor asked him jestngly if he married how he
would be able to take care of his mother. His
eyes flashed us he answered: IF had fifty
wives would take care of my mother" Filial
affection is characteristic of the race. Chill
dren or young girls coming along to relatives
or friends, sick women needing attention from
various causes are given every attention at the
island. Two matrOnS are employed to attend
to the wants of this class of immigrants. All
immigrants ut all times previous to final dis
charge are led and cared Tor ut the expense OF
| the owners of the vessel which brought them
here. Strict rules given for their courteous
treatment from the different employees of the
| island and these are rarely broken. Foreign
money can be exchanged ut the bank there;
telegraph offices, hotel solicitors, restaurants,
religious and charitable societies are all there
for the convenience and protection of the im-
mgrant--and the wrongs and fieecings of i'm
migrants so often heard of reduced to n mini
mum-it is when they are outside the protection
| of the government, and among those of their
own nation that their troubles really begin.
| No praise can be too high to the immigration
bureau for the splendid service it renders the
| country.-B1OOkiyR Eagle.