The sun., 1896-09-06

The Criticisms or The Sun on the Cnse OF
Mario Sehwnrz Sustained.

To THE EDITOR OF The SuS-Sir: After
reading the letter of Mr.. McSweeney. Acting
United States Commissioner Of Emigration, to
THE Sun OF Thursday, I am impelled TO suggest
to him another perusal of the Aliea Labor law,
which It is of his official duties to aid In en-
forcing. THE Sun. In referring to the SchwRrZ
case, where n wife was refused admission 70
the United States BY tho Special Committee Of
Inquiry" on Ellis Island at the demand OF her
husband. criticised the grotesque assumption OF
authority by that remarkable body" Mr..
McSweeney says. in answer. that Congress
has established that certain classes OF alien
emiVrnnts shall not be permitted to land upon
our shores. and in this case the Board OF Special
Inquiry WAS simply endeavorinG y determine
whether or not this emiRrant Marc Schwarz)
belonged to ono OF these clnsses"
The Federal statue to which Mr.. McSweeney
refers relates to individuals not to "classes." I"
1t declares (chaptor 55D that these persons
shall DO denied admission to the United States
and deported back to the countries from which
they came: Idiots. paupors. or persons likely
TO become public charge. persons suffering
from dangerous contagious disease, persons
convicted Of felony or other infamous crime.
polygamists, and persons whose ticket or pas
sage has been paid by another under labor
contract"
Marie SchwarZ. the detained emigrant, was
charged by her husband with having separated
from him IN Berlin. Of which city tLey wero
res,aen,s rmn , he alleged !, apPeArs that she
Wherein did the Special Board OF Inquiry
acquire any Jurisdiction in the natter What
had Its members to do with the matrimonial
disagreements of the Schwarz family in Berlin Z
What right had II, under the authority OF the
the ordeal OF an Inquiry and compel her to
establish, afirmatyey, her right to !and2
Special Board OF nuury IN nays hs she OF wns
charged with having committed certain acts
which. u true. would have leu to her deporta-
persons charged with certain acts arc to bo
regarded as Pfimd tdc,e criminals. Tho
sons being Charged with acts" it
says persons who have been con-
noosnt. however blameless may be charged
with certain acts" but an American citizen ar
riving at European port would entertain a
poor notion OF tue hospitality OF foreign Gov-
ernment which would incarcerato him as n
felon and call upon him TOR herr to prove that
States against him Tor her were untrue without
tae tormfniity of any indictment, warrant or
cure his Tor herr liberation.
say for instance. that the German emiGrant.
Mnrts Sishwarz; Had been guilty Of specific acts
law OF Congress would McSweeney and his as
sociatcs have to refuse her entrance into the
United States unless she could establish to the
satisfaction OF the Special Board Of Inquiry her
Innocence?
The hus band OF the emigrant. Marie Schwarz,
whose case THE SrS has referred to- is. it ap-
pears. a citizen of the United states. and the
Special Board of Inquiry had no more jurisdic-
tion, your correspondent to the contrary not
wIthstandinR. over his wife ia citizen OF the
United States through the citizenship of
her husband) than it has over a Pc
destrinn on Broadway or sghtseer on
the Bowery. The truth of the matter Is
that the Special Board OF Inquiry has
taken upon itself number OF functions not
authorized by law-the settlement OF mntrimo-
Nal disputes, love quarres. c"urtship, m!sun-
dorstaudincs, and betrothai usAges among
them; When called to account by ,THE SUN
Rress for the authority OF the Ellis Island in
ouistors. anu he speaks in his letter of the sum-
mary disposal Of this case when. in point OF
TACT. as the records show. there was no such
disposal. but tie matter was held in abeyRnce,
to the Injury and humiliation OF this woman
emiErRnt IL Is quite true. as Mr.. McSweeney
says, that DIR. Senner is in Europe, but in de-
parting he chose to leave here for use the rulos
which he has established for such absurd and
unjust inquiries as THE Sun commented upon.
This woman landed OH Saturday and was en-
titled to adj mlssion to the United States on that
day without any red tape or formality She
detained under threat of deportation and with
out. contend, any warrant OF law or justifca-
tion whatever until Monday. in order that this
"Speci al Board Of Inquiry" should inquire into
of their business. THE SUNS exposure In the
Schwarz case will. no doubt, have the very sat-
isfactory result of putting an end TO an intoer-
able abuse carried on under the authority OF
the | nited States against the poor and friend
less OF other lands who come here under the pro-
lection %. our laws 10 seek liberty and asy lum.
NEW YORK. sept /. ID. l..