The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-02
OBJECTS TO EARL RUSSELL
II. j. Smiths Protest 10 the Treas
ury Department.
Laws Applicable to Convict Immi-
ErntiOn Referred 20 in Letter to
the Assistant Secretary. H. A.
TayIOr-The Lattcr's Terse Reply.

grafton Referred 20 in N Letter TO
the Assistant Secretary. H. A.
TayIor-The Lattcr's Terse Reply.
The question whether Earl Russell
should be admitted 20 this country has
recently been brought 10 the attention Of
the Treasury Department I'm number
Of commuuiCa tons. This seems 90 have
caused by what has been termed. the I'M
usual course which the Treasury Depart
ment has pursued IN regard 10 the matter.
When the Treasury officials were inform
ed through the newspapers that Earl Rus
. Sru intended coming tn this country. the
immigration authorities attention was
called to the fact that the Earl had been
convicted Of blgamy. and was. therefore,
under the laws regulating immigration,
excluded from this country They inform
ga IN" collectors at the various immigra-
ton ports Of THIS matter. that they
could act i'm keeping with the law should
the Earl present himself at the gates OF
this country and demand au,zission.
The information did not carry any in
struCtious. but was mer y intended for
use by the Board Of Special Enquiry, IL
it would have seen mt to make use Of it
in its Investigations into the matter.
Il. a Taylor, Assistant Secretary OF
the Treasury however, thought otherwise
and resciuded the letter Of the Immigra-
ton Bureau to the collectors and advised
the latter that Earl Russell, not being
a criminal under American laws, should
not be refused admission on account OF
the verdict Of the English House OF Lords.
branding him a feIon and sentencing him
to Imprisonment Tor term Of three
months.
Horace J. Smith, Of Philadelphia. first
called the attention Of the Treasury De-
partment TO the intention of Earl Rus
sell to come 10 this country, and further
more made the Treasury acquainted with
( the detailed facts of the earTs conviction,
! and demanded that he be refused admis-
sion 20 this country. in accordance with
/ the laws regulating the immigration ser
vice
! Ar Taylor yesterday received the fol-
/ lowing letter from Mr. Smith in regard TO
/ the matter:
Sir: There has appeared in the press
/ generally letter apparently from YOU,
J m reference 20 my protts st in regard TO
/ Bari Russell, aad further reference 10
4 the ease appears in your answer 10 the
protest. Cabled 10 YOU by the Countess
I Russell. In which you appear to have
B stated that the former statements attrih-
/ utrd TO YOU are untrue. In this answer
T YOU are made 20 say that. u0twithstaud-
ing your reported decision admitting
e.
you know nothing whatever OF the pro-
. cCtdinEs here except what has appeared
. IN the newspapers II Is due 10 all par
d ties her. that there should be some CN-
I phct and reliable statement made by the
/ department upon which the parties inter
1 cSted could act with Intelligence. II is 50
4 extremely irregular that decision should
/ be made by the department in advance Of
. any application having been made. and
J without any effort on the part Of the de
partment 70 ascertain the facts Of the
/ ma mo hat h.a .aa
. statements In regard TO the department s.
. relation 10 the case are wholly unwar-
rantcd-
/ Il submit 90 YOU. or whoy ever may be
3 the proper authority. my protest against
the admission Of Earl Russell. and the
I grounds for the protest.. ] have. before
entering this protest. ascertained the
facts Of the divorce and the law relative
To convict immigration. The fact that the
divorce fere was obtained by fraud and
| was Invalid Ia America, as in England,
I was before the House Of Lords and dis
/ tiuctly proved. and ADMITTED by thc carl
/ IN his permitting, without objection a
divorce 10 be granted 10 his then vile
Mabel Edith. Countess Russell The con-
. ViCIiOu was made uuou fuil view N n
D.. facts and the law of the case; It was
followed by ms 8mPrlsouiAs EL. ,iuu y ss
brought within the letter and spirit OF the
law Of immigration OF March 3. D9l.
Permit me 10 cali your attention to
the provisions Of the act Sections I and
y include among the classes Of aliens
who shall be excluded from admission to
the United States persons who have been
convicted Of "a felony or other Infamous
crime or misdrTntauor. involving moral
tuTpitutc. ON the arrival. by water OF any
allen immigrant ut any place within the
United states. tine agent OF commander
OF the arriving vessel shall report the
I name. residence. nationality. and desti-
I nation Of such immigrant to the proper
I inspection officers. and they shall make 4
! proper inspection OF such immigrant. and
I they shall have power to administer
! oaths and take testimony relative 20 the
/ right OF the alien 10 admission, and enter
I the same on record. and detaln the nnmi-
Z grant during such examination, their de-
Z Cisi0u shall be final respecting the right
I Of the alien 10 land. unless appeal from
I the decision he taken to the Commission
. er OF immigration. whose action shall be-
/ subject % review by the Secretary Of the
& Treasury.
1T is my purpose in writing 90 YOU a.
! ascertain whether your decision, as re-
I ported was made. and whether IL was
! intended TO- supsrSeue the orderly course
/ a. procedure prescribed IN this act and
I whether IL is intended TO tOrestau any
/ examination at the point Of landing, and
{ ahrOgatc in advance the regular course OF
procedure prescribed IN the act which
! have just rccitcd.
You will obIige me by an early answer
| to this request. The matter Is one al
| great Importance FL its relation to the
! family. and OF course. Of still greater i'm
| p0rtance in the matter Of an impartial
| administration Of our laws governing i'm
migration. 1 am. with great respect
HORACE j. SMITH
Tn answer to this communication Mr.
TAYLOR seat the following letter.
| Mr. Horace J. Smith, 52f Walnut Street
! Philadelphia
| Sir: / am in receipt Of your letter OF
| the S0th instant with regard 10 the admis-
/ sion Of Earl Russell 10 this country
! should he apply 10 be permitted. II is
| not necessary 20 make any statement III
| relation 10 the newspaper gossip 10 which
/ you refer Z simply say that the depart
| meut intends TO administer immigration
/ affairs according 20 the laws and rcBula
/ lions Respectfully yours.
II A. TAYLOR.
Assistant Secretary
In speaking of the matter today Mr.
Smith said.
What Q wished To- know was. whetheI
I a decision had been made by Mr. Iayiol
ass reported. over his signature iu advances
. ! Of the application Of the convict earl. IN
! violation uf she provisions Of the act 90
! March e. 1891 That rs Of interest O. th'
! public generally. sly object in calling TN
/ attention of the department 20 the matte
= I was that q law excluding undesirable i'm
I migrants might Dee enforced, and the couu
I.. fIrgl-r.-IIFf.T lIfr.1H ID. sIf