New-York tribune., 1902-10-11
BARRED FROM ELLIS LSIANn
THE REV. II. J. BERKEMEIER AcCT-srn
OF ABUSING HIS PRIVILEGES

r
Commissioner Williams Of the Bureau q, =,
migration yesterday gave Oriers thai tbs =
resentatives of the German Lutheran Irnrnis-a..
Home. al No. - State-st, be prevented 80
going 10 Ellis Island or the Barge Office 70 I,li,
after immigrants This order affects The Pe,-
HI BerSemeier. the missionary. and his agaD,
DANIEL Duran This action was based az -
allegation that Alr. Berkemeier was not assist
ing immigrants from charitable motives. b,,r
from motives Of a commercial nature. In a let
ter which Commissioner Williams sent 10 Mr.
F,erkar,eiar he characterized him as a 'boarding
house runner parading under false colors.' The
mission and immigrant home with which Mt
Berkens.ier i connected vas founded by his
father twenty-seven years ago II is operated
under the charter of an association. and is
under the supervision OF committees appointed
b, the annual council of the German Lutheran
church 4, rba United states The following is a
part Of the letter which COMMISSIONS Williams
sent 10 Mr.. Berkemeier:
Sir: You have for some time past represented al
Ellis Island the Lutheran Immigrant Home. Al No.
- s~ss,r, - rb. island under the supposiu5n that
your only object was 10 assist illli-Ial.9- nave
5 Irl 14S and now have conclusive proof that
instead OF assisting nlrills ats % a. ~ - N tsaet
meeting their friends and compelling them 70 ac-
cept employment ss--l.S , y, look up servants fr
them an E,nis island. Your action - the more
reprehensble because YOU nave pTeAAra 10 your
name the word pastor
Following this introduction Commissioner
Williams relates the circumstances or Marie Y.
Rhein who arrived here on october 1. and al the
request Of Mr. Berkemeier was discharged 20
him This was in disregard Of her desire 10 so
10 the home OF a Mrs. Ambrose Vernon IN East
Grange. y J.. II is asserted. under threat Of de-
portation. Commissioner Williams declares
that Nj Berkemesr forced her 10 take service N
the home Of a man in Flatbush- In the mean
time Mrs Vernon. who IS the N.fe OF a clergy
man. was seeking the girl only thr'ush me
services - an expert Treasury agent Was she
found as Mr.. Berkemeie- according 20 the letter.
had declined 10 tell where she was. continuing
/ Commissioner Williams says
! on Monday. October s ] summoned you 70 my
orHce where you repeatedly contradl'teI N'ltsfL
4 and misstated tne facts IN isnoI.'cs - ~ -ii
Island Won stated ~ that the girl said she did not
] lyfs6 ~ ro NJ Mrs Vernon. which statement was
T-0,-tl,- shown 10 la rrtrrs. 80 that when 40 the
4 home on Thursday Mrs Vernon hnd not asked -
Sc the girl whereas you later adlnlii-l ital si
had MADE such request ,sl thai You fc'iaellf..F
/ YOU discharged her told hlm That ~ had .-- mal-
/ girl and thar this girl was turned over m com
plia-ce with such application 4nd 90 mar me !" -r
valid and that YOU ,Sere requested tell The girl
nhor sb raes.d through fiiis Island So mat his
Wif- rnighr grow 81 spcious and nervous an of
which do not believe % Pc true
Commissions Williams also alleges that he
found that In May. 1901, Mr. Berkemeier put an
immigrant Ciri AZ work IN the home against her
VIII. and refused % permit her 70 communicate
with her relatives. T. whom she was going she
was released only 10y legal proceedings and was
swindled out of part Of the pay due her. accord
ing 70 COMMISSIONS Williams.
In closing. the Commissioner says
Your boarding house rates range from % cents r1
s. - a day g person. This Is business. not charity
The time has come when propose 60 draw
sharp line between the true mls-OnarlaS t1f whom
there number al Ellis island and the board
ing house runners. UhC. paradllg under 't.Sa
colors are for that reason the most dangerous
people 20 whom immigrant may ee turned
over.
Mr.. Berkeueier. when seen after he had re-
oeived The letter. refused 20 say anything IN
reply He was evidently much disturbed hy IT,
II was said that board money was only taken
from those who were able TO pay. others being
entertained free.
According 70 the annual report OF the home for
1891. its receipts for the year were Sl3,Ji3 -
and its expenses S1l.Sl7 l., Among the items
OF receipts We're From the entertainment of
555S guests. $1.'lSi ~ and from commissions
s. Us6 gO There were also gifts amounting 20
$3.50 "a. The home had more than Sll.'sp on
deposit in savings banks and trust companies